RRBs Urged to Scale Up IT-Enabled Financial Inclusion

RBI/2006-2007/406 RPCD. CO. RRB. BC. No.97 /03.05.33(F)/2006-07 May 21, 2007 The Chairmen All Regional Rural Banks Dear Sir, Annual Policy Statement for the year 2007- 08 – IT-enabled Financial Inclusion Please refer to the paragraph 163 of the Annual Policy Statement for the year 2007-08 , a copy of which is enclosed. 2. As per our Circular RPCD.CO.No.RRB.BC.58/03.05.33(F)/2005-06 dated December 27, 2005 the RRBs have made available a basic banking 'no-frills' account so as to achieve the objective of greater financial inclusion.  The efforts of banks have enabled the common person to open bank accounts.  However, financial inclusion objectives would not be fully met if the RRBs do not increase the banking outreach to the remote corners of the country.  This has to be done with affordable infrastructure and low operational costs with the use of appropriate technology.  This would enable banks to lower the transaction costs to make small ticket transactions viable. 3. A few banks have already initiated certain pilot projects in different remote parts of the country utilizing smart cards/mobile technology to extend banking services similar to those dispensed from branches.  RRBs are, therefore, urged to scale up their financial inclusion efforts by utilizing appropriate technology.  Care may be taken to ensure that the solutions developed are: highly secure, amenable to audit and follow widely accepted open standards to allow inter-operability among the different systems adopted by different banks. Yours faithfully, (G. Srinivasan) Chief General Manager Paragraph 163 of the Annual Policy Statement for the year 2007-08. IT-enabled Financial Inclusion 163. Introduction of ‘zero balance’ or ‘no frills’ accounts has enabled the common person to open bank accounts. However, providing banking facilities closer to the customer, especially in remote and unbanked areas, while keeping transaction costs low, remains a challenge. Recognising that IT-enabled services have the potential for effectively meeting this challenge, banks have initiated pilot projects utilising smart cards/mobile technology to increase their outreach. Biometric methods for uniquely identifying customers are also being increasingly adopted. Accordingly: banks are urged to scale up IT initiatives for financial inclusion speedily while ensuring that solutions are highly secure, amenable to audit, and follow widely-accepted open standards to ensure eventual inter-operability among the different systems.

Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2006-2007/406 · issued 21 May 2007. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.

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