Date:15/10/2007 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/10/15/stories/2007101550791500.htm

Back ‘Bring all Andhra Bank branches under CBS’

Our Bureau

Visakhapatnam, Oct.14 The All-India Andhra Bank Officers’ Federation has urged the management to bring all the branches of the bank under core banking solutions (CBS).

At a press meet here on Sunday, on the occasion of the zonal conference of the Federation, Mr K. Ramakoteswara Rao, General Secretary, said the bank was lagging behind in this respect and the management should take note of it.

Mr Rao said the Indian Banks’ Association’s recommendation to bring down the Government equity to 26 per cent from 51 per cent in public sector banks was very disturbing.

“The IBA has no right to make such a recommendation, which amounts to denationalising the banks and privatising them. The public sector banks were nationalised by an act of Parliament.”

Opposing M&As

He said wage revision was pending and the issue was also being discussed. He said the Federation was opposed to mergers and acquisitions, and the recent moves of State Bank of Saurashtra to merge with the SBI were causing concern.

Mr Rao said there was an acute shortage of staff in Andhra Bank and after repeated pleas “the management has decided to recruit 529 officers, 279 clerks, 150 sub-staff and 103 security guards in the financial year.”

That, however, would not be sufficient and at least thrice the number would be required, he pointed out.