Dena Bank for core banking solution to 900 branches in 2009:CMD

Panaji, Aug 30 (UNI) Dena Bank has planned to bring 94 per cent of its 1,165 branch network under the coveted core banking solution (CBS) by next year end.

The CBS is in vogue in 300 branches at present, covering 64 per cent of its branch network. It would later decide as to whether the bank should go in for total CBS or not, depending on the need.

Disclosing this to mediapersons after addressing the bank managers meeting here today, Dena Bank CMD P L Gairola said the bank had switched over to the CRB system only last year but claimed it was not so late as most of other banks did so only four years.

Concerned with having only 10,000 credit card base as against five lakh debit card network for the 70-year-old bank, the authorities had also decided to go in for tie-up with the SBI Card to enlarge its credit card base.

''We are working out the modalities and finalise the deal within a month. It is likely to boost our earnings also while a part of it goes to the SBI for operating the system,'' the CMD said.

As part of its expansion drive, the Dena Bank had decided to open 26 more new branches during the current fiscal and 125 more ATMs as against the existing 325 ATM's in the country, the bank chief said.

At the same time, the bank had worked out strategies to reduce its NPA further to 1.5 per cent net as against 2.45 per cent amounting to Rs 570 crore, he added.

UNI BM LY NP1903