Date:22/07/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/07/22/stories/2006072214511900.htm

Business

'Integrate old banking values with technology'

Staff Reporter

Thrissur: V. Krishnamurthy, Banking Ombudsman for Kerala and Lakshadweep, has called for banking practices that combine traditional fiscal values and modern technological innovations.

Launching the Catholic Syrian Bank Global Support Card here on Thursday, Mr. Krishnamurthy said that the institution of Ombudsman had striven through several programmes to generate awareness about proper banking practices and improve customer-banker relationship.

He defined the approach of the institution of Ombudsman — ``conciliatory, not confrontational; democratic, not autocratic.'' He said the Ombudsman had received a host of complaints related to core banking and functioning of ATM counters.

Mr. Krishnamurthy said the flip side of the boom in retail banking. ``Retail banking concentrates on urban areas and contributes less to productive assets. Credit defaults too are on the rise.''

He called for innovative methods to cater to the banking requirements of the increasing number of women customers and improving facilities for senior citizens.

N.R. Achan, chairman and chief executive officer of CSB, presided. Santanu Mukherjee, Country Head, South Asia, VISA International, M.J. Cyriac, Principal, Government Medical College, Thrissur, P.C. Varghese, chief general manager, CSB, and V.P. Iswardas, general manager (operations), were among those present on the occasion.