Public sector lender, State Bank of Hyderabad is aiming to increase its branch network in Andhra Pradesh. and also in other states of the country. It plans to add 70 more branches to its kitty by the end of this fiscal, said Mr M.C. Jacob, General Manager (agri business and branch expansion).

According to Jacob, the bank currently has 1270 branches and it targets to take the number to 1340 by end of March 2011. The Visakhapatnam area has 207 branches of the bank to which 15 more are targetted to be added.

He added that branches of the bank in Orissa would also be doubled in number.

"We are not only focusing on branch expansion, but on reaching the rural masses. Our presence in the coastal AP districts was limited in the past, but we are expanding aggressively," he said.

Speaking on the bank's plans of increasing workforce, he said, "We are recruiting 2,400 clerical staff and more than 1,000 probationary officers for our new branches. Our bank is opening up employment avenues for the youth in the State."