Bihar asks nationalised banks to open branches in all villages

The Bihar government would ask nationalised banks to open branches in all the villages having a population of over 2000, deputy chief minister SK Modi said.There were 9213 villages with population of more than 2000 which did not have banking facilities, Modi told reporters.Stressing the need for opening more branches in rural areas in Bihar, Modi, who also holds the finance portfolio, said the banks had opened up 800 new branches in the state since April 2008.He said the RBI had already issued licences for opening of 148 new branches which should be complied with soon.Stating that the state had more potential for loans he said that it was necessary to ensure the opening of more branches in the state for the purpose.