Next SLBC meet crucial for UBI & Uco Bank Read more: Next SLBC meet crucial for UBI & Uco Bank

Just when the hangover of the New Year revelry and excursions ends in a week, the two commercial lead banks operating in their respective districts in the state would be flipping through papers or just be seized with giving finishing touches to a matter of different kind other than the handling of their routine banking transactions to tie up the loose ends.

For, at the 34th State Level Bankers' Committee (SLBC) meeting held here on December 13, it was decided that they achieve 100 per cent financial inclusion of the families (households) in their allotted districts by December end last year, since their performance did not match with other banks till September 30. Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi had presided the SLBC meet.

For the sake of record, of the seven lead commercial banks involved in achieving 100 per cent financial inclusion of all the families (households) in their allotted villages in the 19 districts during the first phase of the programme, five touched the pole point by September 30.

However, the achievements of the two other lead banks were less than par, as transpired at the SLBC meeting. The five lead banks which touched the pole point first in their allotted districts are State Bank of India (SBI), Punjab National Bank (PNB), Central Bank of India (CBI), Bank of Baroda (BoB), and Canara Bank. On the other hand, two lead banks which stood at a touching distance of their counterparts are Union Bank of India (UBI) and Uco Bank.

The 16 districts where 100 per cent financial inclusion of the families concerned have been achieved are Purnia, Saharsa, Supaul (all handled by the SBI), Buxar, Bhojpur, Gaya, Rohtas (all handled by the PNB), Siwan, Gopalganj, Vaishali, Katihar, Madhubani, Saran (all handled by the CBI), Sheohar, Sitamarhi (handled by the BOB), and Sheikhpura by Canara Bank. They together had been allotted 20,039 villages having 67,78,588 households to cover.

On the other hand, the share of the UBI and Uco Bank was 3,297 villages with 6,44,833 households in three districts of Khagaria (under UBI), as well as Munger and Banka under Uco Bank. Their district-wise coverage were Khagaria-99.10 per cent, Munger-98.97 per cent, and Banka-94.51 per cent.

The two banks were asked to achieve financial inclusion of the remaining families by December last year, so that the second phase of the 100 per cent financial inclusion of all the families (households) in the remaining 19 districts could also be initiated to keep the tempo going. The final outcome, however, would be known at the next SLBC meet, the date of which is yet to be announced.