PKB starts providing loans to general clients this month
ARAFAT ARA | Saturday, 6 February 2021
Probashi Kallyan Bank (PKB) is set to provide loans to general clients by this month with a view to expanding its service as a scheduled bank.
Officials said one can take out a loan of highest Tk 2.0 million for 10 years. Interest rate will be 9.0 per cent for male and 7.0 per cent for female.
The specialized bank started its journey as a scheduled bank in 2018 to carry out the general banking activities.
As part of its services, PKB will offer loan to the general people, officials mentioned. Earlier, it also launched remittance business, using Bangladesh Krishi Bank's overseas network to fulfill its objectives.
Currently, PKB runs 72 branches across the country. The bank was established in 2011 with a capital of Tk 1.0 billion aiming to provide loans to overseas jobseekers for migration and rehabilitation of returning workers.
When asked, an official at PKB said registered mortgage is mandatory while other general conditions of PKB loan will be applicable for clients.
He also said they are facing some challenges in operating general loan services for the clients at this moment.
The bank has no necessary software to disburse loans among general clients. So, loan services will be primarily operated by existing software.
Software will reach within three or four months. Besides, the bank has no mid-level officials. So, it will create difficulties in providing smooth services to the people. A process is underway to appoint manpower, he added.
So far PKB has launched various funds including special scheme for Covid-19 impacted migrant workers. It gives maximum Tk 200,000 as migration loan to outbound workers at interest rate of 9.0 per cent.
According to the PKB statistics, it disbursed different loan products worth about Tk 560 million among 2,848 migrant workers and overseas jobseekers as of February 2 of the current fiscal year (2020-21).