Credit Card facility soon in State

IMPHAL, Feb 7: The State denizens will see ‘plastic money’ soon as the State Bank of India (SBI) is making all out efforts to bring Credit Card facility to its customers. This upcoming development was announced today by Assistant General Manager SBI, Imphal Benu Hazarika while speaking at the golden jubilee celebration of the bank held at SBI Old building at MG Avenue. Benu Hazarika said that the public sector bank had launched the facility in Guwahati recently with similar facility to be extended to the State at the earliest. He further said that despite its low interest rate, the rate of availing Home Loans in the State is very low. He however opined that it might be due to people of the State not aware enough regarding the facilities provided by the bank in Home Loans. Benu Hazarika also said that four more ATM machines have already arrived and will be installed at MG Avenue branch shortly in addition to the two existing ATMs. He also expressed confidence that with the installation of these four machines, the customers would be mitigated from the associated inconveniences of having to stand in long queues.To sort out the technical complicacies, if any, Benu maintained that the Imphal branch has purchased new UPSs and a 100 KVA generator. With regard to ‘connectivity’ with other branches within the State and beyond, it depends fully on the service provided by BSNL, Benu added. The Assistant General Manager further said that the branch has also conveyed to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) regarding the ‘mutilated notes’ circulating in the State. The Imphal branch has also a Coin Vending machine from which one can draw out any number of coins, he informed. Benu also said highlighted to the gathering that SBI is providing Real Time Gross Settlement Scheme (RTGSS) in which any SBI customer can transact money to the accounts of other banks with a minimal charge of Rs 25. To provide paperless and hassle free banking to its customers, the bank too is providing Internet Banking (INB) like any other private banks. Business community can enjoy benefits from SBI through Power Pact and Power Gain facilities, he added. The Golden Jubilee celebration function was graced by former Minister Lt Col (Retd) H Bhubon Singh as chief guest and SBISA NE-Circle, CVP Th Rohini-kumar and SBI Develop- ment Banking Division Ma-nager Tonglu as guests of honour. SBI Imphal AGM Benu Hazarika presided over the function. The SBI Imphal which was launched on January 25, 1959 with taking over of manpower and infrastructures from the erstwhile Manipur State Bank Limited now has 20 branches in the State.