SBI to expand branch network in Bengal Circle

Kolkata, Dec 27 (IANS) India's largest banker State Bank of India (SBI) will strengthen its network in the Bengal Circle by adding 142 branches by the next financial year, a senior bank official said here Saturday.

'We've set a target to add 142 branches in the Bengal Circle that includes West Bengal, neighbouring Sikkim and Andaman,' SBI chief general manager (Bengal Circle) Jayanta K. Sinha told reporters at a programme here Saturday.

He said: '102 of the proposed branches will be opened in semi-urban and rural areas, considering the growing banking operations in these two sectors.'

Sinha said seven more branches would be opened in and around Kolkata within one month.

'Presently, we have 476 ATMs in our circle. By December 2009 we'll add 40 ATM outlets here. We're targeting a total network of 1,100 ATMs in the Bengal Circle by March 2010,' he said.

In the current financial year, SBI has given financial assistance worth more than Rs.4 million to various welfare organisations.