Ahmedabad DCCB widens digital footprint
Total volume and value of transactions using mobile app is rapidly increasing in the leading district bank of Gujarat:
Ahmedabad District Central Cooperative Bank has 88 ATMs located at prime locations in its areas of its operation. The bank had done a record of opening 35 ATMs in a single day a few years ago, while it added only 1 offsite ATM in the last financial year. All the ATMs are now generating income for the bank. The bank also has 8 mobile vans with ATMs moving in different areas to provide banking services at the doorsteps and spreading awareness of digital banking in rural areas. The people in villages are made aware of the use of various mediums for digital banking transactions through pamphlets and using LCD boards.
MICRO ATM, PACS, BC
The bank has completed the process of deploying micro-ATMs at various locations through BCs and PACS. At present, 564 PACS are affiliated with the bank. According to Ajaybhai Patel, Chairman of the bank, this has been a very unique in banking that without any bank branch people are getting banking facility in their villages, saving time and money for them. Out of 630 microATMs, 225 are installed at various PACS.
All the bank’s branches are equipped with ATM/micro-ATMs to enable cardbased banking. PACS and milk producers’ cooperative societies are also using bank’s micro-ATMs, which support debit cards of any bank.
POS DEPLOYMENT
Patel says the bank provides 2 PoS machines per village for BCs and merchant customers. The bank has a tie up with India Transact for this service. “We ensure that any new branch opened in rural areas is equipped with ATM/ micro-ATM/PoS for digital banking
experience,” says Patel.
RUPAY KCC FOR CASH CREDIT
The bank has issued 95,000 RuPay KCC debit cards as of 2020-21 for cash credit accounts of farmers. The card helps the farmers to purchase fertilizers and other agriculture inputs. This loan product is specially designed in a way that whenever the farmers withdraw money, the interest will start on that much amount and from the date of transaction only, explains Patel, adding: “This will reduce the interest burden on farmers. We are also providing Platinum RuPay cards to customers.”
INTERNET, MOBILE BANKING
Today, Ahmedabad DCCB offers all technology-enabled banking services to its customers. It is the first DCCB in the state to receive RBI permission in 2019 to start financial transaction through internet, mobile banking and IMPS channel and BHIM UPI. Customers have options to register themselves through the branches for online banking. The bank started net banking in March 2019, using an internet banking application from C-Edge.
The bank launched mobile banking services on NPCI platform. Says Patel: “Our mobile banking facility can be used with smart phones as well as lowend mobile phones having SMS facility. Internet banking service users can register for mobile banking through the internet banking application. We have also introduced IMPS facility for our customers and our customers are really happy.”
MOBILE APP USAGE
The total number of cumulative transactions using the mobile app of the bank was 350,000 and of the value of `2.30 billion. The number of customers registered for mobile banking services is also increasing and it is about 35,000 at end of the June 2021.
BBPS, LIVE ON PORTAL
The bank is offering SMS Alerts service to all account holders who are registered with bank. The bank is live on Bharat Bill Payment System since March 2019. Patel states: “SMS Alerts are given for all financial transactions done at branches and ATMs. The BBPS service is available in multiple payment modes, online and through a network of agents. The bank is live on DBT, PAHAL and PFMS portals.”
IT TRAINING
The bank organizes educational training program for its staff and managers.
Topics on which training is offered range from loans and advances to motivation, IT, digital banking, soft-skills, customer services and so forth. The 1500+ staff comprising branch managers, officers and support staff are required to attend every program. Experts from outside the bank as well as professional trainers are invited for the training programs and seminars. Once in every 6 months chairmen, secretaries and committee members of 560+ PACS are also updated on the latest happenings in the banking sector. Technical training and all related support are extended to them so that they can provide banking services in unbanked areas and during non-banking hours and holidays.