Goa Leans On Banks For Growth And Development

Banks in Goa have been performing well, reaching out to the masses and offering timely assistance:

The banking outreach in Goa can be described as excellent with total 821 branches of 37 commercial banks (650 branches), 59 branches of the state cooperative bank and 105 branches of 15 urban cooperative banks at the end of FY 2018-19. There were 298 ATMs as of 2017-18. These details are brought out in a booklet titled ‘Role of NABARD in Goa 2018-19’, prepared by Kamakshi Pai, GM/ officer in-charge, NABARD, Panaji.

The South Goa district has over 47 banks operating through a network of 422 rural and semi urban branches. There are 33 commercial banks (with 340 branches), the state cooperative bank (31 branches) and 13 UCBs (51 branches). There are 50 PACS and 65 cooperative credit societies in the district. Goa does not have any DCCBs or RRBs. There are 53 banks operating through a network of 399 rural and semi urban branches in North Goa district.

Ulhas Phaldesai, chairman, Goa State Cooperative Bank, says the bank has 23 ATMs in the state and no ATMs were added in 2018-19. All the ATMs are in urban areas. The total customer base of the bank is 369,000.

Goa is 100% financially included. The lead bank is State Bank of India with 54 branches. India Post Payments Bank commenced its operations with a branch at Margao and 4 access points (post offices) as its outlet for delivery of financial services.

CREDIT POTENTIAL

The Potential Linked Credit Plan (PLP) prepared by NABARD for 2019-20 for South Goa projects a credit potential of ₹36.80 billion under priority sector as compared to ₹36.35 billion during 201819, an increase of 1%. The ground level credit in South Goa under priority sector in 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18 were ₹19.73 billion, ₹24.73 billion and ₹24.08 billion respectively. During 2017-18, the priority sector achievement was 67%.