Canara Bank to set up more Bio-metric ATMs

Bangalore, Sep 21: The Public sector Canara Bank will set up more Bio-metric ATMs in India for benefit of illiterate rural folk.

Launching Bio-metric ATM, Mobile ATM and Smart Cards, specially designed for providing facilities to rural folk here today, Canara Bank Chairman and Managing Director M D N Rao said the bank would extend the pilot project of setting up Bio-metric ATMs to other rural branches in the country.

''The technology-driven Bio-metric ATMs will enable the illiterate customers to inquire his balance and withdraw cash from his account through the card supplied to him by the bank'' he said.

Mr Rao said as part of 'Financial Inclusion' initiative, the Canara Bank had so far opened six lakh no-frills accounts in over 1639 villages and had set a target to reach ten lakh by this year end.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Deputy Governor Usha Thorat, present on the occasion, said ''Financial Inclusion is not only an initiative to promote savings habit but also to extend financial management services to the poor and downtrodden in the society.'' Ms Thorat said ever since the RBI launched the Financial Inclusion drive, over 60 lakh no-frills accounts were opened in the country.

UNI