Experts at a discussion on Saturday opined that revolutionary changes have occurred in the banking services, over the years, specially through applying automation and digitalized processes in services as well as through implementing most modern banking products.
They said the banking industry has been playing a pivotal role in the country’s socio-economic development, also in the economic growth through the application of diversified schemes, financing effectively in the industrial and entrepreneurial needs of the country by maintaining the state of the art level of standards.
The remarks were made while the experts were talking in a television talk show, named “Ei Shomoyer Banking”, aired by the popular TV Channel, Channel i in its live business bulletin.
Senior Vice President (SVP) and Head of Communication, Mutual Trust Bank, Azam Khan and the Chief Editor of daily Bangladesh Post, Sharif Shahab Uddin attended the live discussion as analysts.
Replying to queries made by the host, Azam Khan said banking has, now-a-days, become part of day to day work of people.
He said there are banking services for the people engaged in the diversified segment of profession as well as for the students and many others. The government has been distributing stimulus packages through the banking channel and they have been given the opportunity to open bank accounts for only Tk. 10.
“In terms of retail banking, women banking, Islamic banking, everywhere banks are trying to provide services as per the demands and choices of customers.
The Mutual Trust Bank always prefers to design its products or schemes which are considered as the demand of time I mean, in line with the modern day needs of the customers.
There are a total of 61 banks in both public and private sectors and all of them have the similar types of services and products for customers, but the way of reaching the services to the customers is a factor, side by side traditional banking we have agent banking, we have sub-branch arrangements side by side full branches, huge number of ATM and Deposit Machines, Touch Points and above all there is opportunity to take any sorts of service digitally whenever or wherever the customer needs.
While talking on the same topic, Bangladesh Post Chief Editor Sharif Shahab Uddin said compared to the banking practices during the Pakistan era or if you come during the post liberation era in Bangladesh, the banking sector has been able to bring about a revolutionary change in terms of its services and practices.
“Digital Banking, Plastic Banking, you now-a-days it is called nothing is needed, if you only have a credit card you can do everything through it., so you can say the changes have taken place not less than our expectation.
The government has been distributing money for different allowances or stipends for students through mobile financial services which are the most effective and time-worthy banking service and people are enjoying the benefit of this,” Shahab Uddin added.
Shahabuddin said that although the service standards at the public banks are comparatively lower than those of the private sector banks, the state run banks have to run a lot of works of the government like distribution of pension, allowance of safety net program, at the same time though once the state owned banks only played role in financing big volume of money for many industries that are today well-established.
So, public banks also have their commendable role in building the nation’s economic and industrial base.
