Raise CD ratio, all blocks should bank branches: Nitish to bankers

Patna: Stating that banks credit-deposit ratio in Bihar at 40 percent is only half of the national level, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today asked banks to formulate an effective plan to increase it besides expediting opening of bank branches.

Kumar made the appeal at the State Level Bankers Committee meet in Patna and stressed on increasing the disbursement of education and agriculture loans, which was low in the state.

He rued the slow progress in opening of bank branches in the state and said no panchayat should remain without a bank branch.

“Against the target to open 750 new bank branches in the current fiscal only 184 branches have come up till now,” the chief minister said.

The government was constructing panchayat bhawans in phases and space would be given to banks there to open branches.

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Kumar also laid emphasis on security in banks and said from the next SBLC meetings the state police chief and principal secretary to the home department will be present to answer quries relating to it.

He also emphasised the need to intensify distribution of kisan credit cards along with their renewable and hailed mega loan distribution camps while underlining the need to focus on them.

In such camps information related to working of banks at district level and progress in implementation of government schemes should be placed, Kumar said.

Industries Minister Renu Kushwaha, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh, SBI chief general manager Rakesh Sharma and RBI regional officer NK Verma also addressed the meet.

PTI