HPGB turns digital; Staff turns tech savvy
Himachal Pradesh Gramin Bank is in the process of providing services like IMPS, bill payments, Aadhaar and mobile seeding at BC locations:
Him ac hal Pradesh Gram in Bank was formed following the amalgamation of 2 RRBs - Himachal Gramin Bank, Mandi (sponsored by Punjab National Bank) and Parvatiya Gramin Bank, Chamba (sponsored by State Bank of India). The merged bank, now sponsored by Punjab National Bank, has a network of 265 branches in 12 districts of the state.
The bank has a motto of outreach and strategies like ‘each one, reach ten’. Uday Chandra, who has been Chairman of the bank since 21 November 2017, says not only in business development but in social security schemes, government sponsored programs, deepening of digital infrastructure, this strategy has been highly effective. The bank has expanded its network of BCAs (business correspondent agents) from 201 to 301 and BCAs have been instrumental in reaching deep interiors and unbanked villages of the state and have shown high effectiveness.
In times of covid restrictions, BCAs have provided door-to-door facility for payments, deposits and account opening. Uday Chandra says in FY 2020-21, BCAs have made 219,230 transactions of `1.10 billion and opened 15,322 PMJDY accounts. “Like at branches, we are in the process of providing services like IMPS, bill payments, Aadhaar and mobile seeding facility at BCA locations also,” he adds.
MICRO-ATM, KIOSK PORTAL
The bank provides door-to-door banking services at far flung and unbanked areas of the state through BCAs, who are equipped with handheld micro-ATM devices. These devices are enabled and optimized for Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AEPS) and card-based payment
system. BCAs are equipped with latest gadgets and the facility of kiosk portal, which can be configured on laptops and window-based tablets. A kiosk portal can provide services like AEPS, cash deposit, enrolment in social security schemes like PMSBY, PMJJBY and APY, passbook printing, balance enquiry, term deposit account opening, payment to self-help group accounts and savings (PMJDY) instant account opening.
GROWING DIGITAL TRANSACTIONS
The bank has launched HPGB mBanking mobile application to facilitate 24x7 banking facilities to its customers. Uday Chandra states: “Customers using HPGB mBanking application can conduct transactions like IMPS, NEFT, BBPS, mobile recharge and DTH recharge. More than 1.2 million transactions have been made till date through HPGB mBanking.”
The bank is constantly making changes/upgradation of alternate delivery channels to provide efficient banking services to the people of the state. It has implemented CTS with the aim to ease cheque clearing process. It has onboarded on Unified Payment Interface (UPI) platform. “More than 6 million transactions have been routed through UPI till date. We are making our customers aware of the advantages of using UPI to make payments through digital literacy camps,” says Uday Chandra.
UPGRADING BANDWIDTH, RF
The bank is also making concerted efforts to upgrade connectivity and reduce issues relating to it. “Possible upgradation to leased line or higher capacity RF mode are being explored and deployed. We are also upgrading bandwidth at branches to provide seamless services to our valuable customers,” says Uday Chandra.
PFMS, DIGITAL LITERACY
The bank has also implemented Public Financial Management System (PFMS), which has made it easy to transfer subsidy and other benefits to the beneficiaries. It has also been providing digital financial literacy to its customers by organizing camps at its branches. Uday Chandra says 587 financial literacy camps have been held in the last FY and 864 camps as of date this year.
VENDORS, IT TEAM
The bank is using Finacle version 10 as its core banking system. It has an IT team of 10 members who manage day
today technology operations. The bank’s data center is being maintained by the sponsor bank.
TRAINING FOR PROFICIENCY
Staff training is one of the focus areas at the bank. Uday Chandra says the staff is being trained on a regular basis so that they attain proficiency in their respective work areas. With covid restrictions, online training has turned out to be a very efficient and effective method of training, he says, adding: “Now through video conference, we are conducting programs very frequently for the benefit of the staff.”
ONLINE: NOW PART OF CULTURE
Post pandemic, the bank is trying to bring in the cultural change into the organization. Uday Chandra says: “Online meetings, conferences and trainings, which started as a necessity during covid, have now become an integral part of our culture. It provides us with a platform of regular interaction with field staff, which is a morale booster for them. The staff has become tech savvy in using online meeting platforms and it is turning out to be a very efficient method of business strategy development. The staff has also shown exemplary courage and commitment in discharging their duties effectively even under the most challenging circumstances to achieve all round growth.”
TWITTER HANDLE @HPGBANK
The bank has its presence on Twitter etc with the handle @hpgbank. Uday Chandra says the bank is posting various digital literacy information, fraud prevention information. “We are planning to utilize the power of social media to promote our various schemes, which ultimately leads to the growth of the bank. Due to successful marketing campaigns at various levels, the bank today stands as leader in all social security schemes in the state,” says he.
TECH SUPPORTS GROWTH
During 2020-21, the total business of the bank increased by 12.52% from `79.26
billion to `89.18 billion. In advances, it has shown a growth of 15.40% with an increase of `3.25 billion, bringing the total to `24.40 billion. Uday Chandra says in Q1 of the current financial year, the bank registered yoy growth of 14.32% in total business, 15.9% in advances and 13.76% in deposits. It has registered a substantial growth in all the business segments because of the technology support, despite lockdown and restrictions due to covid pandemic.
PLAN FOR DIGITAL PLATFORM
Post covid, the bank has set certain targets. Uday reveals: “We are planning to launch various campaigns for opening savings accounts, enrolment in social security schemes, issuance of debit cards to ensure 100% coverage, onboarding maximum customers on digital platforms like HPGB mBanking as well as UPI, and increase the network of BCAs to cover all unbanked areas.”