RBI lodged complaint against SBI alleged fake notes

In Bihar East Champaran district, situated on the Indo-Nepal border fake currency notes are being circulated which has taken inquisitive turn. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) lodged an FIR against the State Bank of India (SBI) for depositing fake currency notes in the RBI. The FIR was lodged by the RBI’s Patna-based manager Robin Tirkey at the Town police station of East Champaran's district HQ town of Motihari. In his complaint manager alleged as many as 23 fake notes of Rs 500 denomination were deposited in the RBI treasury by SBI on different dates.

Motihari assistant superintendent of police (ASP) Anil Kumar Singh informed investigation is being done. In East Champaran there are as many as 14 SBI branches and their payments come to the Motihari SBI branch which deposits the same in the RBI.

SBI's Patna-based GM Sameer Sharan showed false ignorance about such an FIR. He told TOI, "Today being a holiday on account of Bakrid, we will have details by tomorrow and we will do the needful".

For quite sometime the bordering district has been in the news as it is considered as a haven of fake currency racketeers. Police teams of different states keep descending on the Nawtan block in the district and conduct raids following leads on fake currency. Several arrests have also been made from the block.

Last month two such racketeers belonging to Nawtan were arrested in Delhi with fake notes worth Rs 70,000. In a bigger haul, a few days ago local police have made arrests; four such racketeers have been arrested with Rs 11 lakh worth fake notes near Motihari town.

SBI to expand branch network in A&N Islands

State Bank of India (SBI) officer informed that it will be opening its branch in the Andaman & Nicobar (A&N) Islands to boost the Union Territory's economy.

SBI Chief General Manager, Bengal Circle, Jayant Kr Sinha briefed a group of visiting journalists that the number of branches will be increased from 18 to 20 by the end of the current financial year.

Sinha also told by December the number of ATMs will be also be increased from 11 to 16, adding to that he said one will be installed at Car Nicobar Islands.

SBI, is the lead bank of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, will also start income generation activity among the unemployed youth in the Union Territory, for this it has collaborated with Nabard to set up a training institute under the Rudseti (rural development and self training institute) program.

Sinha said that as the island is lacking in industrial activity, the bank will pass on financial assistance for fisheries, horticulture and floriculture.

The credit-deposit ratio in the island has been low at 36. With time in the island tourism has gained importance therefore the bank will be extending finance for developing related logistics in the area.

SBI to offer round-the-clock banking facility in Lucknow

State Bank of India (SBI), is India’s largest public sector lender. A senior bank official informed that it will be launching a 24-hour banking service in Lucknow.

The bank's chief general manager Shiv Kumar told IANS, "We will offer round-the-clock banking facilities at a centre that will be set up at the main SBI branch in Hazratganj".

Bank will be providing facilities like internet banking, mutual funds and insurance services at the centre, to instigate it as 'Banking Plaza'. Basically the new facility is targeted at customers who are unable to avail of services during regular working hours between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Kumar informed that the process to setting up of the new centre will start next month. He said, "Once the Plaza is set up, customers need not bother about the fixed timings".

As per SBI officials report the bank is having over 60 million customers across Uttar Pradesh.