In its drive towards increasing the volume of business, India's largest public sector lender, State Bank of India has shown plans of setting up 25 more branches of the bank in Assam this year. Along with the set up of new branches, the bank also would be increasing its ATM strength.

Chairperson of SBI, Mr. O.P.Bhatt said that the bank is taking up this step so as to meet the needs and requirements of the customers. Speaking further on future plans of the bank he said, "We are also planning to enhance the ATM strength up to 1000 mark within next three months in the region."

Mr. Bhatt further said that SBI has plans to recruit around 25000 candidates this year for all its branches across India. "There are about 700 vacancies in the region and all the existing vacancies will be filled up," he added.

Also speaking on the menace created due to increasing trend of currency frauds, he said that the bank has set up new machines in many branches to put a check on the nuisance. Mr. Bhatt commented on the issue with reference to the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) report on 35,000 cases of counterfeit notes.

He later also inaugurated Document Archival Centre (DAC) and the first e-Centre with cash facility ATM at Silpukhuri.

The new Document Archival Center has been set as part of the Business Process Reengineering plans of the bank.

Business Process Reengineering refers to the management practice adopted by organizations so as to improvise the efficiency and thereby the effectiveness of their business processes.

The e-center facility will provide with both cash and cheque deposit facility and also with internet banking facility in the state.

Mr. Bhatt assured that the new facilities would act towards the benefit of customers and the customers would be able to do banking in a more hassle free and convenient manner with SBI.