HDFC Bank on Friday said it is not averse to the idea of expanding branch network in the Maoist-infested Bastar region of Chhattisgarh provided it is assured of security of its staff in new branches.
“We are willing to go there (Bastar). However, safety is paramount on our minds. In fact, to cite an example, the HDFC bank was the first to open a branch in Jammu and Kashmir,” HDFC Country Head (Branch Banking) Navin Puri said at a news conference here after announcing the opening of the bank’s 12 rural branches in Chhattisgarh.
Puri said that the bank would open a branch each in Kondagaon and Kanker districts of Bastar region in fulfilment of RBI’s directive on inclusive banking to serve the unbanked regions across the country.
“If people are willing to go and work in Bastar, we will consider opening more branches. The other key factor which can help expand our branch network in rural areas is availability of leased lines for communication and power supply availability,” he said.
“HDFC is a network driven bank and it cannot move forward with opening new rural branches unless there are leased lines available along with power supply,” he said. With the opening of the 12 rural branches in Chhattisgarh, the bank’s total number of branches have reached 50 in its network.
“We open our branches after evaluating the need of the region and the market needs. In fact, HDFC Bank offers more products for the rural and semi-urban pockets,” Puri said. He said that HDFC Bank has 55 per cent of its branches in rural and semi-urban pockets of the country. “We are planning to open about 400 more branches in 2014 and many of them would be in the rural and semi urban areas,” Puri said.