All-woman SBI branch in each district

MUMBAI: In a bid to encourage women entrepreneurs and promote greater usage of banking services by women, the country's largest lender SBI has decided to set up one all-woman branch in every district. The bank has already opened 14 such branches - one in each regional hub. Speaking to TOI, SBI chairman Arundhati Bhattacharya said, "Supporting women to grow is an idea that is central to our philosophy of being the 'Banker to every Indian'. SBI has initiated steps to ensure that at least one all-women branch is there for each district. This Women's Day we rededicate ourselves to promoting women enablement and empowerment. We are also conscious of our responsibility of providing an enabling and safe work environment for women."

According to Bhattacharya, an all-woman branch makes it more comfortable for women to conduct banking. "We expect to promote more entrepreneurship among women, particularly in smaller towns and villages," she said. SBI accounts for 23% of the funding of all self-help groups in the country which comprise women.

"There is a need to provide some level of hand-holding to these women. We are able to do so only up to a point beyond which we are not equipped. There is a need for NGOs non-government organizations or the government to step in to improve the linkages of the self-help groups," Bhattacharya said.

Given that there are 688 districts in India, SBI's all-woman branch network might end by being on a par with that of Bharatiya Mahila Bank, which has 94 branches. BMB has targeted a network of 771 branches by 2020.

State Bank of India