Country's largest lender, State Bank of India has set up its first off-site e-centre-cum-bank of ATM in West Bengal.

The e-centre comprises of four installed ATM units and an internet banking kiosk.

A trained person at the e-centre will work to provide customer assistance and guidance if required.

The e-centre is strategically located in Cotton College, Panbazar area to serve the online banking needs of different people.

The placement is expected to serve visitors to Nehru Park, Cotton College, High Court, BSNL employees besides business establishments and communities.

The bank plans to replicate similar e-center models elsewhere in the state.

Confirming the same, K Rajendra Prasad, Assistant General Manager, Alternate Channels, SBI, said, "The Northeastern Circle of SBI has commissioned six numbers of Bank of ATMs in various States of the region, out of which three are also equipped with e-centres. These Bank of ATMs and e-centres have been established at Cotton College, Ganeshguri, Hotel Vishwaratna, Guwahati besides Imphal, Dimapur and Itanagar."

The bank has already established 116 ATMs in the region in a short period since June 1, 2009, against the set target of 101.

AK Deb, Chief General Manager of SBI NE Circle, revealed that the bank plans to scale up its ATM count to more than 1,000 during the current fiscal from existing 465 machines.