State-run Indian banks launch doorstep service

India's Ministry of Finance said Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman rolled out a doorstep banking service, which is expected to benefit a large number of customers of these entities, including senior citizens and persons with disabilities.

"At this stage, the catalysts for economic revival, the catalysts who have the pulse of every one of their customers, are banks," Sitharaman said. Speaking after launching PSB Alliance-Doorstep Banking Services, the minister said banks need to introspect on their core businesses.

"The rapid pace with which India has adopted Jan Dhan, Aadhar and mobile can be a lesson to other countries."

Sitharaman said banks must reach out to those areas where banking has not reached yet. She said all bank staffers should know the details of government schemes which are to be implemented through the lenders.

Doorstep banking services by public sector banks is aimed at providing convenience of banking services to the customers through the universal touch points of a call centre, Web portal or mobile app. Customers can also track their service request through these channels, the Ministry of Finance said in a statement.

The services shall be rendered by the doorstep banking agents deployed by selected service providers at 100 centres across the country, it said.

Earlier, during the nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus, several Indian banks had offered doorstop cash delivery service to its customers especially living in coronavirus hotspot areas.

Currently, only non-financial services such as picking up of cheques, demand draft, pay order are available to customers. Financial services shall be made available from October. The services can be availed by customers of public-sector banks at nominal charges, the statement said.