Daijiworld News Network – Mangalore (VM)

Mangalore, Jun 7: The Dharwad-based Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank (KVGB) has plans to offer financial support for tourism, horticulture and fishing sector and is keen on development of coastal Karnataka. This was informed by chairman of the bank B S Surendra in a press meet here on Tuesday, Jun 6.

The bank has plans to open 15 branches and 20 ATMs during this financial year. It opened its first ATM in Dharwad recently. The undivided DK district will get a share of around four bank branches, he informed.
 
At present, the bank had 22 branches in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts covering 110 villages.

The bank has ambitious expansion plans and aims at emerging as a leading player in DK, UK and Udupi districts. Among the nine districts under its jurisdiction, the bank considered the coastal districts as having the most potential, he said.

Four regional rural banks, the Bijapur, Malaprabha, Netravati and Varada grameena banks sponsored by the Syndicate Bank were merged to form the Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank on September 12, 2005. The bank extends financial support to 2,198 villages in nine districts.