Date:22/09/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/09/22/stories/2005092200881900.htm

Back Vijaya Bank managers told to focus on farm, SME loans

Our Bureau

Mangalore , Sept. 21

BRANCH managers of Vijaya Bank, coming under the jurisdiction of Mangalore Regional Office, have been urged to meet their targets in agriculture and SME (small and medium enterprises) lending.

The General Manager of Vijaya Bank, Mr Lakshmikanth Hegde, who addressed a meeting of branch managers here on Wednesday, said that the officials should focus on these sectors.

Citing the bank's performance in extending agriculture loans during the last financial year, he said the performance should be continued this year also.

Stating that credit expansion is key to profit maximisation, he said the bank has done well in this area in the last three years. He lauded the performance of the Mangalore region in retail lending last year. Retail credit gives good yield on advances.

Mr Hegde urged the bank managers to increase the share of low-cost deposits to the total deposits. Efforts should also be made to attract more NRI deposits, he added.

Mr Vasantha Kumar Shetty, Deputy General Manager, who presented a report on the performance of the region, said that the bank would soon open a currency chest in Puttur of Dakshina Kannada district and a branch at Neeleshwar in Kasaragod district of Kerala.

Extension counters of the bank will be opened in Wenlock Hospital and P.A. College of Engineering in Mangalore, he added.