Hyderabad July 12: With success of the first self-service banking centre (SSBC) at Vanasthalipuram, with audio-enabled ATMs for visually impaired, the State Bank of India is going to open four more branches in the city.
The first SSBC inaugurated on March 26, is witnessing 950 transactions everyday while the ATMs accounted for 350 daily transactions, said Hannah Rachael Mani, deputy general manager, alternate channel and payments, SBI. She added that they are going to set up four more SSBCs, with one earmarked for Banjara Hills.
The branch at Vanasthalipuram is first of its kind in Andhra Pradesh, after a centre in Delhi. It is a staff-less banking outfit based on technology. “We are planning to roll out these SSBCs aimed at providing a 24/7 alternate channel to financial services,” said Rachael Mani. She added a SSBC is a multi-function kiosk having Internet banking, mobile banking, mobile top-up, train ticketing, income-tax payments, bank statement printing and passbook updating facility. It also has three ATMs, including one for visually-challenged with a Braille keypad.
P Charles, a visually-challenged resident said, “In the initial days, I use to take help from the caretaker to operate the machine and withdraw money. But now I am able to withdraw money using the Braille keypad on my own.” A mcahine which accepts bunch notes was installed recently. The machine helps to deposit money to one’s account directly.
–Agencies