ATM services of PNB started

Agartala, Oct 29 (UNI) The ATM service of Punjab National Bank (PNB) has been started here from today with the installation of the first ATM machine inaugurated by state Power Minister Manik Dey.

PNB Zonal Manager-North East Zone G Banerjee highlighting the performance of the bank.

''The bank has more than 65 per cent of branches in rural/semi urban areas while in NE Zone, it is more than 80 per cent,'' Mr Banerjee said.

He further added that the bank has been continuously achieving the national goals for priority sector lending, agricultural and weaker sector advances.

''In NE Zone, we have already increased agricultural credit by more than 180 per cent over March, 2004 against the target of 100 per cent increase by March, 2007 as stipulated by the Union Finance Minister,'' the Zonal Manager said adding that the priority sector credit as on September, 2006 was 58 per cent while agricultural credit was 24 per cent against the national goal of 40 per cent and 18 per cent respectively.

Mr Banerjee informed that the bank has planned to open more branches in the NE Zone in addition to the existing 57 branches in five states of Asom, Meghalaya, Manipur, Nagaland and Tripura.

UNI