UNION BANK OF INDIA: CONSULTATIVE & IDEATION PROCESS AT REGIONAL LEVEL WITH BRANCHES

by Suman Gupta

Mumbai -Aug, 2019: Regional Office, Mumbai (West) of Union Bank of India organised meeting of all Branch Heads on 17^th & 18^th August 2019 wherein collective consultative and ideation process was undertaken to align Banking with national priorities.

As branches are the first point of contact with the customers, this consultative process is aimed at understanding performance of branches over a period of previous five years vis-a-vis opportunities available and growth potential in the respective command areas.

Through this process several ideas have emerged to align banking with area specific issues & enhancing ease of living by making branches more responsive to customers and enhancing digital access. The specific areas of discussion during the meeting included: initiatives required for doubling farmers’ income, enhancing credit to small businesses particularly through psb59 and MUDRA Schemes & empowering Women & SC/ST Entrepreneurs. It was also emphasised that in order to promote green economy and Swachhta activities including reducing usage of plastics and strengthening electric vehicle manufacturing & charging infrastructure, branches may identify alternative sources like ethanol, EV batteries, paper packaging and extend finance to such environment friendly activities/technology.

On this occasion MD & CEO of the Bank Shri Rajkiran Rai G. told that PSBs have been central in driving India economy and will continue to do so with their strong reach across the country. With the economy at inflexion point, the policy decisions/reforms taken now will define the future of the banking and its contribution to economic growth. I strongly believe that this bottom up consultative process will provide a platform for field personnel to represent and bring forward the grass root level challenges in their respective areas. This campaign is unique in a way that it will make them drivers of the policy making/reforms to address the involvement and motivation among the field functionaries. I am optimistic that this exercise will generate ideas that will shape the policies strengthening the PSBs to act as catalyst in making India a USD 5 trillion economy.

During the meeting Shri Amarendra Kumar, Regional Head, Mumbai (West) urged the branch heads to popularise focused schemes of the government like MUDRA, psb59 loans, PMJJBY, PMSBY, PMJDY overdraft etc. He also directed branches to convey to customers about reduction in loan rates in various segments.

Bank has 483 branches in the state of Maharashtra Out of this 56 branches are under Mumbai West region of the Bank.

Branches of Mumbai West region have extended credit aggregating to Rs 2810 Crores under MSME Sector within which Rs 654 Crores under micro sector & Rs 117 Crores under Agriculture and allied activities.