The Hindu Business Line : SBI in redesigning mode

APART from introducing a gamut of financial services, the State Bank of India is organising various training programmes to familiarise its staff about the new products.

Mr V. Sreenivas, General Manager (Development and Personal Banking), Chennai, told Business Line that the bank proposed to train 1,300 staff in the next three months. ``The staff are familiarised on core banking solution (CBS), on marketing of insurance products, mutual funds and other financial services offered by the bank,'' he said.

The bank is in the process of refurbishing the interiors of its Personal Banking Branch (PBB) in particular. It has established 10 such personal banking boutiques in Chennai Circle and is looking at adding 15 more by September.

To a query, the GM said, `` though the services rendered by the PBBs are marginally higher than the other SBI branches, the high net worth individuals are actually appreciative of the ambience and the convenience of banking in these branches. The PBBs performance is also encouraging,'' he added.

The bank has been expending huge sums in designing the interiors. ``Our initiative is based on McKinsey report," Mr Sreenivas said.

While stating that the bank would not `as a matter of policy' differentiate its customers, he conceded that the PBB concept was mooted to cater to the needs of high net worth individuals. SBI, he said, was also contemplating to offer portfolio management service in these branches.

When asked about extension of farm credit, he said that the bank was in the process of recruiting 505 agricultural assistants/officers (all India) on a three-year contract.

"The selected officers or assistants will help the bank staff in evaluating the project proposals. The bank would extend the technical input.''

Mr Sreenivas said that the bank had introduced `Business Process Re-engineering (BPR)' service at Chennai since July 1 and the service would soon be extended to all branches connected to the network.

The Retail Assets Processing Cell in the BPR division, he said would take care of the assets processing work, which would be centralised.

More Stories on : Public Sector Banks | Human Resources

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page