News and pics: Rons Bantwal

Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai (EP)

Mumbai, Oct 26: Model Bank opened its thirteenth branch at Rock Garden building, Kanderpada New link Road, Dahisar west on the morning of Sunday October 25. Borivli Lok Sabha constituency MP Gopal C Shetty cut the ribbon, lit the traditional lamp and inaugurated the branch.

In the inaugural ceremony held under the leadership of Model Bank executive president Albert W D'Souza, Borivli west, Our lady of Immaculate Conception Church chief priest Fr Barthol Baretto blessed the branch.

St Louis Church Dahisar chief priest Fr Lancy D'Silva, local corporator Abhishek Ghosalkar, bank's founder president John D'Silva and former executive president Vincent Mathais were present on the
dais.

Albert D'Souza in his keynote address said that the RBI has permitted the bank to open nine new branches and they will be opening them in the metro and the suburbs. He added that the bank is lending loans at very low rate of interest and called upon the public to make use of the facility.

The bank was started as The Mangalore Catholic Cooperative Bank by Karnataka coastal origin Catholic community leaders and later named Model Cooperative Bank. Bank's directors Paul Nazareth, Philip L S
Pinto, Sanjay Shindhe, advocate Pius Vas, Mariot D'Silva, Benedicta Rebello, Abraham Clement Lobo, Lawrence D'Souza, Thomas D Lobo, BMC former mayor Harishwar Patil, builder Anoop Sachdev, Raphael Cardoza, Raphael Castelino, Victor D'Cunha, Ratnakar Shetty Mundkooru and other elite, bank's senior officials, senior managers, branch managers, customers, shareholders and well wishers wished the branch well.

Branch manager Luella Noronha welcomed the gathering. Bank's vice president William Sequeira, additional general manager Harold M Serrao honored the guests by presenting flower bouquets. Bank's CEO and general manager William L D'Souza proposed the vote of thanks. Beeta Carvalho introduced the guests and compered the programme.