RDB ventures into North,East
Ten more branches in the offing:
Hemanthi Guruge
The Regional Development Bank has opened eleven branches in the North
and East provinces as a measure to empower and uplift the lives of
people in the areas since one year of inception.
|
Janaki Kuruppu |
Regional Development Bank (RDB) Chairperson Janaki Kuruppu told the
Daily News Business that plans are underway to open ten more branches in
the North and East provinces next year.
The RDB recently opened its new branch in Chenkalady (Batticaloa)
reiterating its commitment to extending their service to all parts of
the country.
The country’s six regional development bank were merged into a single
Regional Development Bank in July 2010, as a measure to empower and
uplift the lives of Sri Lankans with special focus on small and medium
enterprises sector.
The six regional banks, which were amalgamated, were namely, Rajarata,
Ruhuna, Wayamba, Uva, Kadurata and Sabaragamuwa Development Banks. The
RDB is the largest government owned licensed specialized bank, with over
250 branches serving customers in rural areas.
“We are currently in the process of introducing a co banking
solution, to apply it for all 250 branches in the country,” she said.
The Chairperson also said that bank recorded a profit growth of 74
percent during the first six months of this year compared to the same
period last year.
The bank will take measures to inculcate the saving habit among rural
people, providing good return on deposits and savings, encouraging
schoolchildren and minors to save money and above all to empower the
poor by encouraging them to start income generating activities.
The banks, having been in operation for over 25 years, has been able
to build customer trust and a solid customer base, especially where the
grassroots are concerned.
The banks were established as Regional Rural Development Banks (RDBs)
in 1985, with one for each district, except in the North and East.
The banks came under the purview of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and
the primary objective was the development of the area in which the bank
was in operation. |
