Vijaya Bank is going to develop as many as 100 digital villages in various States of the country as part of its initiative to promote digital banking among the rural population.
Speaking on the sidelines of the inauguration of the bank’s 2031st ATM at Pandit Nehru Bus Station in the city on Monday, bank executive director B.S. Rama Rao said that Vijaya Bank is the only public sector financial institution to develop digital villages with focus on rural areas and it has already developed five villages including the one in Guntur district.
“In less than a month, the project of 100 digital villages will be inaugurated. In those villages, we will provide Internet, free Wi-Fi connectivity, mobile payment facilities, ATM cards, online banking and others besides educating the villagers through door-to-door campaign. We will also open bank accounts to all the eligible villagers including children and encourage them to make transactions digitally,” Mr. Rama Rao said. “Even before the announcement of demonetisation, Vijaya Bank developed digital villages. It is the first public sector bank to take up such initiative,” he said. “Out of the 100, Andhra Pradesh will be getting 10 digital villages.” Mr. Rama Rao further said that the bank has about 13 lakh mobile banking users and about eight lakh Internet banking users.
Bank growth
About the bank’s growth, Mr. Rama Rao said that as on March 31 it has a business worth ₹2,29,833 crore.
In AP and Telangana the bank has 198 branches that have done business worth ₹20,523 crore by the end of the recent fiscal year.
“Vijayawada region alone is doing business worth ₹7,334 crore out of total ₹10,256 crore AP’s business.”
Speaking about funding the government projects in the State, Mr. Rao said that they were working out on financing the metro project of the city.
APSRTC regional manager (Krishna) P.V. Ramarao, bank regional manager (Vijayawada) K. Sivaiah and others were present.
