Kerala to become first `total banking' State

Kerala to become first `total banking' State

Every household here to have bank account by June 30

PALAKKAD: Kerala, which has many firsts in literacy, health and
infant mortality, will become the first `total banking' State in the
country by June 30, 2007.

Every household in Kerala will have a bank account. The work to enrol
the families who are not having a bank account now is progressing.

The project on `100 per cent financial inclusion' by opening
`no-frills' account or `zero balance' account, especially for the
poor, is taken up by various banks in the State.

Lead Bank Manager of the district Sathyanadhan told The Hindu that
the State-level Bankers Committee (SLBC) gave the target to the
district-level banking committees. The individual banks were engaged
in enrolling the families.

Palakkad became the first `total banking' district in the country on
September 30, 2006. Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan would make
formal declaration in February, he said.

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