BB won't allow new branches without solar power arrangements : Atiur
Tuesday, 2 November 2010
FE Report
Bangladesh Bank (BB) is going to issue a circular soon, guiding financial institutions about green banking and BB's focus on resource efficiency, automation, green investment and green procurement.
BB governor Dr. Atiur Rahman explained BB's stance on automation and green banking while speaking as the chief guest on the inauguration ceremony of Pubali bank's "100 branches online".
"The more banks are going online, the more they are being resource efficient as they are reducing paper usage which ultimately results in less trees being cut down", Dr. Rahman said.
Citing BB building's solar power system, Dr. Rahman encouraged banks to adopt such alternative power source. "In future we may not allow new branches without solar power arrangements", he said.
To spur banking growth, the governor also emphasised partnerships with public and private institutions in service expansion. "Pubali Bank can partner with other public or private banks to set up ATM booths jointly and help foreign banks to reach remote areas with its 387 branch network", the governor said.
Pubali Bank Limited (PBL) bought their 100 branches online simultaneously, which is now the largest online banking network in the country. While presiding on the occasion, PBL managing director Helal Ahmed Chowdhury said, "We have chalked out a 5 year plan to be a world-class service providing bank by 2014".
Pointing out PBL's unique positioning, He said, "financial inclusion has been a major focus at Pubali Bank along with profit motive and we are strengthening our arm to the remote areas of the country by setting up newer branches". He cited PBL's recent branch opening in Jessore where facilitating flower cultivators was the key motivation.
BB governor lauded PBL's branch opening in Navarabazar, Jessore which will support a growing flower farming and assured of re-financing for such growing agro sectors. "We will gladly allow to open branches in such growth centers", BB governor said. "Banks should not only pursue profit, rather they should engage more in CSR, especially in southern region of the country", he added.
This year PBL plans to open 14 more branches and recruited 550 new hands of which 50 are IT graduates to facilitate its digitisation process. Besides, PBL finished digitising their all 387 branches with software named Pubali Integrated Banking System (PBS), developed by the bank's own IT team.
"Home made software reduced the cost while ensuring perfect customisation that best suits us", Mohammad Ali, CTO of Pubali Bank explained. "We have plan to bring more 50 branches online by this December and hope to bring all branches online by 2012"
Currently 102 branches of PBL have one-stop customer service which enabled customers to finish withdrawal and depositing within 7 to 8 minutes. "We aim to bring the time within 4 to 5 minutes per transaction. By next year, all of PBL branches will enjoy one-stop customer service".
PBL started its journey back in 1959 with the name of "Eastern Mercantile Bank" and was nationalised after independence which was subsequently denationalised in 1983.
The bank won the 'best financial institution' award in DHL-Daily Star Business Award competition in 2009.
PBL Chairman Hafiz Ahmed Mazumder, MP was present as the guest of honour while bank directors, high officials were also present on the occasion.
Bangladesh Bank (BB) is going to issue a circular soon, guiding financial institutions about green banking and BB's focus on resource efficiency, automation, green investment and green procurement.
BB governor Dr. Atiur Rahman explained BB's stance on automation and green banking while speaking as the chief guest on the inauguration ceremony of Pubali bank's "100 branches online".
"The more banks are going online, the more they are being resource efficient as they are reducing paper usage which ultimately results in less trees being cut down", Dr. Rahman said.
Citing BB building's solar power system, Dr. Rahman encouraged banks to adopt such alternative power source. "In future we may not allow new branches without solar power arrangements", he said.
To spur banking growth, the governor also emphasised partnerships with public and private institutions in service expansion. "Pubali Bank can partner with other public or private banks to set up ATM booths jointly and help foreign banks to reach remote areas with its 387 branch network", the governor said.
Pubali Bank Limited (PBL) bought their 100 branches online simultaneously, which is now the largest online banking network in the country. While presiding on the occasion, PBL managing director Helal Ahmed Chowdhury said, "We have chalked out a 5 year plan to be a world-class service providing bank by 2014".
Pointing out PBL's unique positioning, He said, "financial inclusion has been a major focus at Pubali Bank along with profit motive and we are strengthening our arm to the remote areas of the country by setting up newer branches". He cited PBL's recent branch opening in Jessore where facilitating flower cultivators was the key motivation.
BB governor lauded PBL's branch opening in Navarabazar, Jessore which will support a growing flower farming and assured of re-financing for such growing agro sectors. "We will gladly allow to open branches in such growth centers", BB governor said. "Banks should not only pursue profit, rather they should engage more in CSR, especially in southern region of the country", he added.
This year PBL plans to open 14 more branches and recruited 550 new hands of which 50 are IT graduates to facilitate its digitisation process. Besides, PBL finished digitising their all 387 branches with software named Pubali Integrated Banking System (PBS), developed by the bank's own IT team.
"Home made software reduced the cost while ensuring perfect customisation that best suits us", Mohammad Ali, CTO of Pubali Bank explained. "We have plan to bring more 50 branches online by this December and hope to bring all branches online by 2012"
Currently 102 branches of PBL have one-stop customer service which enabled customers to finish withdrawal and depositing within 7 to 8 minutes. "We aim to bring the time within 4 to 5 minutes per transaction. By next year, all of PBL branches will enjoy one-stop customer service".
PBL started its journey back in 1959 with the name of "Eastern Mercantile Bank" and was nationalised after independence which was subsequently denationalised in 1983.
The bank won the 'best financial institution' award in DHL-Daily Star Business Award competition in 2009.
PBL Chairman Hafiz Ahmed Mazumder, MP was present as the guest of honour while bank directors, high officials were also present on the occasion.