CURRENT UPDATE : FIRST STATE WITH BANK ACCOUNTS FOR ALL FAMILIES

KERALA BECOMES FIRST STATE WITH BANK ACCOUNTS FOR ALL FAMILIES

Kerala has become the first state in the country with bank accounts for all families. A formal declaration to this effect was made by Kerala Finance Minister K M Mani at a function in Thiruvananthapuram today. Under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, which was launched on Independence Day this year, banks in Kerala opened around 13 lakh new accounts, Mani said. Rs 326 crore were mobilized, through intensive financial literacy campaigns launched under the aegis of the State Level Banker's Committee.

Chairman of the State Level Banker's Committee and Executive Director of Canara Bank, P.S.Rawat said Kerala has achieved another milestone, having bank branches in all the 978 gram panchayats of the state. Financial Literacy Centres have been established in all the 152 blocks of the state, achieving the third pillar of Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, well ahead of schedule. Rs 5.25 lakh debit cards have been issued by all banks, SLBC Chairman said.