Door-step banking facility yet to catch on in Chennai

Door-step banking facility yet to catch on in Chennai

For many pensioners in the city, going to the bank itself is an arduous task what with long queues at bank counters.

In a bid to help senior citizens who are unable to visit banks, door-step banking facility was introduced a few years ago.

However, the service is yet to catch up in Chennai and there is not much awareness among the community. Only a few banks actually offer the service.

The facility allows a pensioner aged over 75 to get pension delivered at his or her residence or remit cash on nominal charge. Residents note that only a few banks have implemented the service in the city.

S. Sundaravadivelu, a resident of Tondiarpet, said: “My father is aged over 80 and bedridden. He just makes a call to the bank branch and an authorised person provides cash or collects amount to be deposited.

But, it took me several months to find out about the service and also alert the branch. More awareness is needed.”

Some senior citizens associations also plan to write to banks that the service be made available to the elderly and physically challenged persons. S.M. Chellaswamy, president of the Tamil Nadu Elders Welfare Association, said many senior citizens preferred visiting banks than using automated teller machines.

“I waited for 10 days to receive cash when my relative transferred cash through ATM. We had to undergo some procedures to receive cash because of faulty machine,” Mr. Chellaswamy said.

The association also plans to write to the Union Finance Minister and banks, seeking to implement the scheme.

Meanwhile, representatives of various nationalised banks, including Indian Bank, point out the difficulties in sustaining the door step banking facility because of manpower shortage.

Banks need to outsource staff for such services. Moreover, security issues and expenditure had come in the way of implementation.

Sources in the Indian Bank said that the service was offered on a personalised basis depending on the distance of house and during emergency like hospitalisation.

Many branches had now digitised life certificate submission and also installed bunch note acceptors to deposit cash, the sources added.

The facility allows a pensioner aged over 75 to get pension delivered at his or her residence

Source :The Hindu
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