HDFC Bank banks on 3G services to boost mobile banking share

Hyderabad, Feb 20 (PTI) HDFC Bank aims to increase itsmobile banking share, which is below 5 per cent currently, to10 per cent in Andhra Pradesh once 3G services are fullyrolled out in the state, said a senior official.

The leading private lender is also set to open 34 newbranches in the state before the end of this financial year,taking their total number to 137.

"It (mobile banking) is still in the nascent stage. Ithas to go a long way. After facilities like 3G services arelaunched, it is expected to reach 10 per cent. Currentlymobile banking is around 3 to 5 per cent," CS Gopinath, SeniorVice-President, HDFC Bank, told PTI.

He said the aim is to encourage customers to go formore technology-based services like ATM, mobile and Internetbanking.

According to Gopinath, only 26 per cent of HDFC Bank''scustomers visit its branches and rest depend on ATMs, Internetand mobile for their banking needs. "We have 450 to 500 ATMsin AP and up to 20 per cent customers use Internet banking."

He said they are planning to open 34 new branches inthe state by the end of this fiscal.

"Currently, we have 103 branches in AP. We plan toopen another 34 by the end of this financial year, taking thenumber of branches to 137. In Karnataka we have close to 100branches and in Kerala 150. In Tamil Nadu we have 135branches," he informed.