Public sector lender Corporation Bank has chalked out to increase its strength both in terms of branch count as well as work force this fiscal.

The bank has laid an ambitious plan of increasing its branch count by 200 and also adding 1200 employees to its workforce.

"This year, we will hire 1,200 people as we are planning to open 200 branches," the bank's Chairman and Managing Director, Mr Ramnath Pradeep said.

"The process (of opening branches) is on. It (the expansion) will be across India, particularly in the northern States," he said.

In terms of overseas expansion, the bank plans to add 4 to 5 branches in Africa.