Microfin firm has already started offering a three-month training module.
Banking aspirant Bandhan Financial Services has already started the groundwork by training and upgrading its staff. The microfinance company thinks human resource management will be the toughest part for ensuring a smooth transformation into a full-fledged bank.
“The challenge won’t be operational, but it will be in the skill development of the staff, and to convert the human resource into bank employees,” said Chandra Shekhar Ghosh, chairman and managing director. “We have started a 3-month course of mid-level staff. We hope that within the next two years, we can develop skills of my staff who can then work in the bank.”
After all, Bandhan sports the tag of largest microfinance company with more than 1,800 branches concentrated in east and north-east India, a headcount of 12,000 and 47 lakh women borrowers.
It’s hoping to leverage its solid presence in rural and unbanked areas to win a licence from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
Ghosh said once the training of his employees is over, the micro-credit company will think about the recruiting additional bank staffers for its proposed bank. All of these, of course, hinge on the central bank’s final decision on the matter.
Bandhan, one of the 26 licence hopefuls, expects its proposed bank to break even from the second year of operation. It’ll continue to serve its current rural women clientèle while sharpening its focus on loans to micro, small and medium enterprises, the CMD said.
“In SMEs, we will do maximum working capital loans. We have already tested more than Rs 50,000 to Rs 5 lakh loans to entrepreneurs, who have graduated from being our micro borrowers,” added Ghosh.
However, he feels maintaining a 100% women client base won’t be possible if it becomes a bank because once women loan seekers start business on a larger scale, they rope in their husbands for help. He hopes to maintain at least 60% client base from women.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}