The Hindu Business Line : Disha centre opened in Chennai

Chennai, Oct 14 Disha Financial Counselling, an initiative in consumer credit counselling by ICICI Bank as part of its corporate social responsibility, has opened a Chennai branch, which is its seventh in the country.

Inaugurating the centre, Mr F.R. Joseph, Regional Director, RBI Chennai, congratulated ICICI Bank for the initiative. He said, “Financial literacy is the need of the hour. We need financial education, counselling and debt management services.”

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Financial education will help provide information on various products such as credit cards and personal loans, and impart skills like saving, budgeting and investment. Credit counselling will explain the pros and cons of opting for these products, while debt management will provide guidance in dealing with financial crises and controlling financial affairs.

Urging other banks and institutions to come forward with such initiatives, Mr Joseph said, “We need financial inclusion in order that the fruits of growth and development reach the 300 million people below the poverty line.”

More centres

Mr B. Madhivanan, Senior General Manager, ICICI Bank, said, “We plan to open about 25 centres. But we see this as creating a platform and want it to maintain a neutral perspective — so these counselling services will be available free to customers of any bank. We are doing our bit to create a responsible customer who comes in with awareness.”

He said Disha was staffed by a number of volunteers who were top retired bankers.

Mr S. Gopalakrishnan, former bank ombudsman and former Chairman and Managing Director of Vijaya Bank, would head Disha in Chennai.

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Disha centre opened in Chennai