MADURAI/TIRUCHY: More branches of the Bharatiya Mahila Bank (BMB) will come up in rural areas of the State. The focus will be on empowering uneducated rural women to take up self employment opportunities.
Speaking at the inauguration of first BMB branch in Madurai and third in the State after Chennai and Coimbatore, Usha Ananthasubramanian, chairman and managing director, Bharatiya Mahila Bank Ltd., said that the bank, 16 months after its inception, had come up with special products in terms of bank loans, to encourage women entrepreneurs.
“Our focus is on less educated women, especially in rural areas, who can come up with their own entrepreneurial ventures,” she said.
Stating that at least 20 branches of the bank would be established in rural parts of the country, she said the bank had tie-ups with leading beauty parlours for providing training to women.
She further said that though the banks were meant to empower women, men too could avail benefits from the banks.
G Natchiar, Director Emeritus, Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai sought simplified rules and clarity on the formalities so that more number of women could come forward to avail the benefits in terms of loans from the bank.
Inaugurating the Tiruchy branch of the bank, the fourth in the State, Usha Ananthasubramanian said that BMB would soon be introducing Mobile Banking Services for tech-savvy customers.
Hi Speed SMS Banking and Hashtag banking would enable customers to avail various services like balance enquiry, mini statement, etc., she said.
So far, 1.50 lakh account holders are there with BMB, she said and appealed to the men folk to extend their support by joining hands with BMB.