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Journalism of Courage
In a first, banking heavyweight HDFC Bank on Wednesday (April 10) opened a branch office at Lakshadweep’s Kavaratti Island, making it the only private bank to have a presence in the remote territory along India’s west coast.
The office was inaugurated by Senior Navy officer Captain Lovekesh Thakur and Dr K P Muthukoya, an imminent local resident. S Sampathkumar, Group Head- Retail Branch Banking, HDFC Bank and Mr Sanjeev Kumar, Branch Banking Head, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry and other local dignitaries were present on the occasion.
“This branch is aimed at upgrading the banking infrastructure in the Union Territory by offering wide range of services with focus on personal banking, digital banking which also includes customised digital solutions including QR based transaction to retailers,” the bank said in a press release.
HDFC Bank’s distribution network includes 8,091 branches and 20,688 ATMs across India’s 3,872 cities and towns, as of December 31, 2023. The number marks a minor increase as against 7,183 branches and 19,007 ATMs across 3,552 cities and towns till the end of 2022. As per the bank, 52 per cent of its branches lie within semi-urban and rural areas of the country.
Commenting on the launch, S Sampathkumar, Group Head- Retail Branch Banking, said, “HDFC Bank has branches in the cold climes of Kashmir, the southern tip of Kanyakumari and now the island of Lakshadweep. We look forward to serving the financial needs of individuals, families, and businesses in Lakshadweep and becoming a trusted partner in their financial journey and contributing to the overall development of the island.”
