Banking Services in India I. History of Banking in India: TH TH

BANKING SERVICES IN INDIA
I. HISTORY OF BANKING IN INDIA
There are three different phases in the history of banking in India.
1) Pre-Nationalization Era.
2) Nationalization Stage.
3) Post Liberalization Era.
1) Pre-Nationalization Era:
In India the business of banking and credit was practices even in very early times.
The remittance of money through Hundies, an indigenous credit instrument, was very popular.
The hundies were issued by bankers known as Shroffs, Sahukars, Shahus or Mahajans in
different parts of the country.
The modern type of banking, however, was developed by the Agency Houses of
Calcutta and Bombay after the establishment of Rule by the East India Company in 18 th and 19th
centuries.
During the early part of the 19th Century, ht volume of foreign trade was relatively
small. Later on as the trade expanded, the need for banks of the European type was felt and the
government of the East India Company took interest in having its own bank. The government of
Bengal took the initiative and the first presidency bank, the Bank of Calcutta (Bank of Bengal)
was established in 180. In 1840, the Bank of Bombay and IN 1843, the Bank of Madras was also
set up.
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These three banks also known as “Presidency Bank”. The Presidency Banks had
their branches in important trading centers but mostly lacked in uniformity in their operational
policies. In 1899, the Government proposed to amalgamate these three banks in to one so that it
could also function as a Central Bank, but the Presidency Banks did not favor the idea. However,
the conditions obtaining during world war period (1914-1918) emphasized the need for a unified
banking institution, as a result of which the Imperial Bank was set up in1921. The Imperial Bank
of India acted like a Central bank and as a banker for other banks.
The RBI (Reserve Bank of India) was established in 1935 as the Central Bank of
the Country. In 1949, the Banking Regulation act was passed and the RBI was nationalized and
acquired extensive regulatory powers over the commercial banks.
In 1950, the Indian Banking system comprised of the RBI, the Imperial Bank of
India, Cooperative banks, Exchange banks and Indian Joint Stock banks.
2) Nationalization Stages:
After Independence, in 1951, the All India Rural Credit survey, committee of
Direction with Shri. A. D. Gorwala as Chairman recommended amalgamation of the Imperial
Bank of India and ten others banks into a newly established bank called the State Bank of India
(SBI). The Government of India accepted the recommendations of the committee and introduced
the State Bank of India bill in the Lok Sabha on 16th April 1955 and it was passed by Parliament
and got the president’s assent on 8th May 1955. The Act came into force on 1st July 1955, and the
Imperial Bank of India was nationalized in 1955 as the State Bank of India.

The main objective of establishing SBI by nationalizing the Imperial Bank of India was “to
extend banking facilities on a large scale more particularly in the rural and semi-urban areas and
to diverse other public purposes.”
In 1959, the SBI (Subsidiary Bank) act was proposed and the following eight
state-associated banks were taken over by the SBI as its subsidiaries.
Name of the Bank Subsidiary with effect from

1. State Bank of Hyderabad 1st October 1959
2. State Bank of Bikaner 1st January 1960
3. State Bank of Jaipur 1st January 1960
4. State Bank of Saurashtra 1st May 1960
5. State Bank of Patiala 1st April 1960
6. State Bank of Mysore 1st March 1960
7. State Bank of Indore 1st January 1968
8. State Bank of Travancore 1st January 1960
With effect from 1st January 1963, the State Bank of Bikaner and State Bank of
Jaipur with head office located at Jaipur. Thus, seven subsidiary banks State Bank of India
formed the SBI Group.
The SBI Group under statutory obligations was required to open new offices in
rural and semi-urban areas and modern banking was taken to these unbanked remote areas.

On 19th July 1969, then the Prime Minister, Mrs. Indira Gandhi announced
the nationalization of 14 major scheduled Commercial Banks each having deposits worth
Rs. 50 crore and above. This was a turning point in the history of commercial banking in
India.
Later the Government Nationalized six more commercial private sector
banks with deposit liability of not less than Rs. 200 crores on 15th April 1980, viz.
i) Andhra Bank.
ii) Corporation Bank.
iii) New Bank if India.
iv) Oriental Bank of Commerce.
v) Punjab and Sind Bank.
vi) Vijaya Bank.
In 1969, the Lead Bank Scheme was introduced to extend banking facilities to
every corner of the country. Later in 1975, Regional Rural Banks were set up to supplement the
activities of the commercial banks and to especially meet the credit needs of the weaker sections
of the rural society.
Nationalization of banks paved way for retail banking and as a result there has
been an alt round growth in the branch network, the deposit mobilization, credit disposals and of
course employment.

The first year after nationalization witnessed the total growth in the agricultural
loans and the loans made to SSI by 87% and 48% respectively. The overall growth in the
deposits and the advances indicates the improvement that has taken place in the banking habits
of the people in the rural and semi-urban areas where the branch network has spread. Such credit
expansion enabled the banks to achieve the goals of nationalization, it was however, achieved at
the coast of profitability of the banks.
Consequences of Nationalization:
 The quality of credit assets fell because of liberal credit extension policy.
 Political interference has been as additional malady.
 Poor appraisal involved during the loan meals conducted for credit disbursals.
 The credit facilities extended to the priority sector at concessional rates.
 The high level of low yielding SLR investments adversely affected the profitability of the
banks.
 The rapid branch expansion has been the squeeze on profitability of banks emanating
primarily due to the increase in the fixed costs.
 There was downward trend in the quality of services and efficiency of the banks.

3) Post-Liberalization Era---Thrust on Quality and Profitability:
By the beginning of 1990, the social banking goals set for the banking industry
made most of the public sector resulted in the presumption that there was no need to look at the
fundamental financial strength of this bank. Consequently they remained undercapitalized.
Revamping this structure of the banking industry was of extreme importance, as the health of the
financial sector in particular and the economy was a whole would be reflected by its
performance.
The need for restructuring the banking industry was felt greater with the initiation
of the real sector reform process in 1992. the reforms have enhanced the opportunities and
challenges for the real sector making them operate in a borderless global market place. However,
to harness the benefits of globalization, there should be an efficient financial sector to support the
structural reforms taking place in the real economy. Hence, along with the reforms of the real
sector, the banking sector reformation was also addressed.
The route causes for the lackluster performance of banks, formed the elements of
the banking sector reforms. Some of the factors that led to the dismal performance of banks
were.
 Regulated interest rate structure.
 Lack of focus on profitability.
 Lack of transparency in the bank’s balance sheet.
 Lack of competition.
 Excessive regulation on organization structure and managerial resource.
 Excessive support from government.
Against this background, the financial sector reforms were initiated to bring about
a paradigm shift in the banking industry, by addressing the factors for its dismal performance.
In this context, the recommendations made by a high level committee on
financial sector, chaired by M. Narasimham, laid the foundation for the banking sector reforms.
These reforms tried to enhance the viability and efficiency of the banking sector. The
Narasimham Committee suggested that there should be functional autonomy, flexibility in
operations, dilution of banking strangulations, reduction in reserve requirements and adequate
financial infrastructure in terms of supervision, audit and technology. The committee further
advocated introduction of prudential forms, transparency in operations and improvement in
productivity, only aimed at liberalizing the regulatory framework, but also to keep them in time
with international standards. The emphasis shifted to efficient and prudential banking linked to
better customer care and customer services.
Private Sector Banks
Private banking in India was practiced since the begining of banking system in
India. The first private bank in India to be set up in Private Sector Banks in India was Indus Ind
Bank. It is one of the fastest growing Bank Private Sector Banks in India. IDBI ranks the tenth
largest development bank in the world as Private Banks in
India and has promoted a world class institutions in India.
The first Private Bank in India to receive an in principle approval from the
Reserve Bank of India was Housing Development Finance Corporation Limited, to set up a bank
in the private sector banks in India as part of the RBI's liberalization of the Indian Banking
Industry. It was incorporated in August 1994 as HDFC Bank Limited with registered office in
Mumbai and commenced operations as Scheduled Commercial Bank in January 1995.
ING Vaysya, yet another Private Bank of India was incorporated in the year 1930.
Bangalore has a pride of place for having the first branch inception in the year 1934. With
successive years of patronage and constantly setting new standards in banking, ING Vaysya
Bank has many credits to its account.
Entry of Private Sector Banks:

There has been a paradigm shift in mindsets both at the Government level in the
banking industry over the years since Nationalization of Banks in 1969, particularly during the
last decade (1990-2000). Having achieved the objectives of Nationalization, the most important
issue before the industry at present is survival and growth in the environment generated by the
economic liberalization greater competition with a view to achieving higher productivity and
efficiency in January 1993 for the entry of Private Sector banks based on the Nationalization
Committee report of 1991, which envisaged a larger role for Private Sector Banks.
The RBI prescribed a minimum paid up capital of Rs. 100 crores for the new bank and the shares
are to be listed at stock exchange. Also the new bank after being granted license under the
Banking Regulation Act shall be registered as a public limited company under the companies
Act, 1956.
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Subsequently 9 new commercial banks have been granted license to start banking
operations. The new private sector banks have been very aggressive in business expansion and is
also reporting higher profile levels taking the advantage of technology and skilled manpower. In
certain areas, these banks have even our crossed the other group of banks including foreign
banks.
Current scenario
Currently (2007), overall, banking in India is considered as fairly mature in terms

of supply, product range and reach-even though reach in rural India still remains a challenge for
the private sector and foreign banks. Even in terms of quality of assets and capital adequacy,
Indian banks are considered to have clean, strong and transparent balance sheets-as compared to
other banks in comparable economies in its region. The Reserve Bank of India is an autonomous
body, with minimal pressure from the government. The stated policy of the Bank on the Indian
Rupee is to manage volatility-without any stated exchange rate-and this has mostly been true.
With the growth in the Indian economy expected to be strong for quite some time-especially in
its services sector, the demand for banking services-especially retail banking, mortgages and
investment services are expected to be strong. M&As, takeovers, asset sales and much more
action (as it is unraveling in China) will happen on this front in India.
In March 2006, the Reserve Bank of India allowed Warburg Pincus to increase its
stake in Kotak Mahindra Bank (a private sector bank) to 10%. This is the first time an investor
has been allowed to hold more than 5% in a private sector bank since the RBI announced norms
in 2005 that any stake exceeding 5% in the private sector banks would need to be vetted by them.
Currently, India has 88 scheduled commercial banks (SCBs) - 28 public sector banks (that is
with the Government of India holding a stake), 29 private banks (these do not have government
stake; they may be publicly listed and traded on stock exchanges) and 31 foreign banks.
They have a combined network of over 53,000 branches and 17,000 ATMs.
According to a report by ICRA Limited, a rating agency, the public sector banks hold over 75
percent of total assets of the banking industry, with the private and foreign banks holding 18.2%
and 6.5% respectively.
II. BANKING IN INDIA

Overview of Banking:
Banking Regulation Act of India, 1949 defines Banking as “accepting, for the
purpose of lending or of investment of deposits of money from the public, repayable on demand
or otherwise or withdrawable by cheque, draft order or otherwise.” The Reserve Bank of India
Act, 1934 and the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, govern the banking operations in India.
Organizational Structure of Banks in India:
In India banks are classified in various categories according to differ rent criteria.
The following charts indicate the banking structure:
Reserve Bank of India
Commercial Banks Co-operative Banks Development Banks
Nationalized Private Short-term Long-term

credit credit
Agricultural Urban EXIM Industrial Agricultural

Credit Credit
Broad Classification of Banks in India:
1) The RBI: The RBI is the supreme monetary and banking authority in the country and has
the responsibility to control the banking system in the country. It keeps the reserves of all
scheduled banks and hence is known as the “Reserve Bank”.
2) Public Sector Banks:
 State Bank of India and its Associates (8)

 Nationalized Banks (19)
 Regional Rural Banks Sponsored by Public Sector Banks (196)
(3) Private Sector Banks:
 Old Generation Private Banks (22)
 Foreign New Generation Private Banks (8)
 Banks in India (40)
(4) Co-operative Sector Banks:
 State Co-operative Banks
 Central Co-operative Banks
 Primary Agricultural Credit Societies
 Land Development Banks
 State Land Development Banks
(5) Development Banks: Development Banks mostly provide long term finance for setting up
industries. They also provide short-term finance (for export and import activities)
 Industrial Finance Co-operation of India (IFCI)
 Industrial Development of India (IDBI)
 Industrial Investment Bank of India (IIBI)
 Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI)
 National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)
 Export-Import Bank of India
Role of Banks:
Banks play a positive role in economic development of a country as repositories

of community’s savings and as purveyors of credit. Indian Banking has aided the economic
development during the last fifty years in an effective way. The banking sector has shown a
remarkable responsiveness to the needs of planned economy. It has brought about a considerable
progress in its efforts at deposit mobilization and has taken a number of measures in the recent
past for accelerating the rate of growth of deposits. As recourse to this, the commercial banks
opened branches in urban, semi-urban and rural areas and have introduced a number of attractive
schemes to foster economic development.
The activities of commercial banking have growth in multi-directional ways as

well as multi-dimensional manner. Banks have been playing a catalytic role in area development,
backward area development, extended assistance to rural development all along helping
agriculture, industry, international trade in a significant manner. In a way, commercial banks
have emerged as key financial agencies for rapid economic development.

By pooling the savings together, banks can make available funds to specialized
institutions which finance different sectors of the economy, needing capital for various purposes,
risks and durations. By contributing to government securities, bonds and debentures of term-
lending institutions in the fields of agriculture, industries and now housing, banks are also
providing these institutions with an access to the common pool of savings mobilized by them, to
that extent relieving them of the responsibility of directly approaching the saver. This
intermediation role of banks is particularly important in the early stages of economic
development and financial specification. A country like India, with different regions at different
stages of development, presents an interesting spectrum of the evolving role of banks, in the
matter of inter-mediation and beyond.
Mobilization of resources forms an integral part of the development process in

India. In this process of mobilization, banks are at a great advantage, chiefly because of their
network of branches in the country. And banks have to place considerable reliance on the
mobilization of deposits from the public to finance development programmes. Further, deposit
mobalization by banks in India acquired greater significance in their new role in economic
development.
Commercial banks provide short-term and medium-term financial assistance. The

short-term credit facilities are granted for working capital requirements. The medium-term loans
are for the acquisition of land, construction of factory premises and purchase of machinery and
equipment. These loans are generally granted for periods ranging from five to seven years. They
also establish letters of credit on behalf of their clients favouring suppliers of raw
materials/machinery (both Indian and foreign) which extend the banker’s assurance for payment
and thus help their delivery. Certain transaction, particularly those in contracts of sale of
Government Departments, may require guarantees being issued in lieu of security earnest money
deposits for

release of advance money, supply of raw materials for processing, full payment of bills on the
assurance of the performance etc. Commercial banks issue such guarantees also.
The Role of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) – Banker’s Bank:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is the central bank of India, and was
established on April 1, 1935 in accordance with the provisions of the Reserve Bank of India Act,
1934. Since its inception, it has been headquartered in Mumbai. Though originally privately
owned, RBI has been fully owned by the Government of India since nationalization in 1949.
RBI is governed by a central board (headed by a Governor) appointed by the

Central Government. The current governor of RBI is Dr.Y.Venugopal Reddy (who succeeded
Dr. Bimal Jalan on September 6, 2003). RBI has 22 regional offices across India.The Reserve
Bank of India was set up on the recommendations of the Hilton Young Commission. The
commission submitted its report in the year 1926, though the bank was not set up for nine years.
Main Objective:
Monetary Authority
 Formulates, implements and monitors the monetary policy.
 Objective: maintaining price stability and ensuring adequate flow of credit to productive
sectors.
Regulator and supervisor of the financial system
 Prescribes broad parameters of banking operations within which the country’s banking
and financial system functions.
 Objective: maintain public confidence in the system, protect depositors’ interest and
provide cost-effective banking services to the public. The Banking Ombudsman Scheme
has been formulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for effective redressal of
complaints by bank customers
Manager of Exchange Control
 Manages the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999.

 Objective: to facilitate external trade and payment and promote orderly development and
maintenance of foreign exchange market in India.
Issuer of currency
 Issues and exchanges or destroys currency and coins not fit for circulation.
 Objective: to give the public adequate quantity of supplies of currency notes and coins
and in good quality.
Developmental role
 Performs a wide range of promotional functions to support national objectives.

Related Functions
 Banker to the Government: performs merchant banking function for the central and the
state governments; also acts as their banker.
 Banker to banks: maintains banking accounts of all scheduled banks.
 Owner and operator of the depository (SGL) and exchange (NDS) for government bonds.
There is now an international consensus about the need to focus the tasks of a central bank upon
central banking. RBI is far out of touch with such a principle, owing to the sprawling mandate
described above.
Supervisory Functions:
In addition to its traditional central functions, the Reserve bank has certain non-
monetary functions of the nature of supervision of banks and promotion of sound banking in
India. The Reserve Bank Act, 1934, and the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 have given the RBI
wide powers of supervision and control over commercial and cooperative banks, relating to
licensing and establishments, branch expansion, liquidity of their assets, management and
methods of working, amalgamation, reconstruction and liquidation. The RBI is authorized to
carry out periodical inspections of the banks and to call for returns and necessary information
from them. The nationalization of 14 major Indian scheduled banks in July 1969 has imposed
new responsibilities on the RBI for directing the growth of banking and credit policies towards
more rapid development of the economy and realization of certain desired social objectives. The
supervisory functions of the RBI have helped a great deal in improving the standard of banking
in India to develop on sound lines and to improve the methods of their operation.
Promotional Functions:
With economic growth assuming a new urgency since Independence, the range of
the Reserve Bank’s functions have steadily widened. The Bank now performs a variety of
developmental and promotional functions, which, at one time, were regarded as outside the
normal scope of central banking. The Reserve Bank was asked to promote banking habit, extend
banking facilities to rural and semi-urban areas, and establish and promote new specialized
financing agencies. Accordingly, the Reserve bank has helped in the setting up of the IFCI and
the SFC: it set up the Deposit Insurance Corporation of India in 1963 and the Industrial
Reconstruction Corporation of India in 1972. These institutions were set up directly or indirectly
by the Reserve Bank to promote saving habit and to mobilize savings, and to provide industrial
finance as well as agricultural finance. As far back as 1935, the RBI set up the Agricultural
Credit Department to provide agricultural credit. But only since 1951 the Bank’s role in this field
has become extremely important. The Bank has developed the co-operative credit movement to
encourage saving, to eliminate money-lenders from the villages and to route its short term credit
to agriculture. The RBI has set up the Agricultural Refinance and Development Corporation to
provide long-term finance to farmers.
Co-operative Banks:
The Co-operative bank has a history of almost 100 years. The Co-operative banks
are an important constituent of the Indian Financial System, judging by the role assigned to
them, the expectations they are supposed to fulfill, their number, and the number of offices they
operate. The co-operative movement originated in the West, but the importance that such banks
have assumed in India is rarely paralleled anywhere else in the world. Their role in rural
financing continues to be important even today, and their business in the urban areas also has
increased phenomenally in recent years mainly due to the sharp increase in the number of co-
operative banks.
While the co-operative banks in rural areas mainly finance agricultural based
activities including farming, cattle, milk, hatchery, personal finance etc. along with some small
scale industries and self-employment driven activities, the co-operative banks in urban areas
mainly finance various categories of people for self-employment, industries, small scale units,
home finance, consumer finance, personal finance, etc. Some of the co-operative banks are quite
forward looking and have developed sufficient core competencies to challenge state and private
sector banks.
According to NAFCUB the total deposits & lendings of Co-operative Banks is

much more than Old Private Sector Banks & also the New Private Sector Banks. This
exponential growth of Co-operative Banks is attributed mainly to their much better local reach,
personal interaction with customers, their ability to catch the nerve of the local clientele. Though
registered under the Co-operative Societies Act of the Respective States (where formed
originally) the banking related activities of the co-operative banks are also regulated by the
Reserve Bank of India. They are governed by the Banking Regulations Act 1949 and Banking
Laws (Co-operative Societies) Act, 1965.
There are two main categories of the co-operative banks.

(a) Short term lending oriented co-operative Banks – within this category there are three sub
categories of banks viz state co-operative banks, District co-operative banks and Primary
Agricultural co-operative societies.
(b) Long term lending oriented co-operative Banks – within the second category there are
land development banks at three levels state level, district level and village level.
Features of Cooperative Banks
Co-operative Banks are organized and managed on the principal of co-operation, self-help, and
mutual help. They function with the rule of “one member, one vote”. Function on “no profit, no
loss” basis. Co-operative banks, as a principle, do not pursue the goal of profit maximization.
Co-operative bank performs all the main banking functions of deposit mobilization, supply of
credit and provision of remittance facilities. Co-operative Banks provide limited banking
products and are functionally specialists in agriculture related products. However, co-operative
banks now provide housing loans also.
UCBs provide working capital loans and term loan as well.

The State Co-operative Banks (SCBs), Central Co-operative Banks (CCBs) and Urban Co-
operative Banks (UCBs) can normally extend housing loans upto Rs 1 lakh to an individual. The
scheduled UCBs, however, can lend upto Rs 3 lakh for housing purposes.
The UCBs can provide advances against shares and debentures also. Co-operative
bank do banking business mainly in the agriculture and rural sector. However, UCBs, SCBs, and
CCBs operate in semi urban, urban, and metropolitan areas also.
The urban and non-agricultural business of these banks has grown over the years.
The co-operative banks demonstrate a shift from rural to urban, while the commercial banks,
from urban to rural. Co-operative banks are perhaps the first government sponsored,
government-supported, and government-subsidized financial agency in India. They get financial
and other help from the Reserve Bank of India NABARD, central government and state
governments. They constitute the “most favoured” banking sector with risk of nationalization.
For commercial banks, the Reserve Bank of India is lender of last resort, but co-operative banks
it is the lender of first resort which provides financial resources in the form of contribution to the
initial capital (through state government), working capital, refinance.
Co-operative Banks belong to the money market as well as to the capital market.
Primary agricultural credit societies provide short term and medium term loans. Land
Development Banks (LDBs) provide long-term loans. SCBs and CCBs also provide both short
term and term loans. Co-operative banks are financial intermediaries only partially. The sources
of their funds (resources) are (a) central and state government, (b) the Reserve Bank of India and
NABARD, (c) other co-operative institutions, (d) ownership funds and, (e) deposits or debenture
issues. It is interesting to note that intra-sectoral flows of funds are much greater in co-operative
banking than in commercial banking. Inter-bank deposits, borrowings, and credit from a
significant part of assets and liabilities of co-operative banks. This means that intra-sectoral
competition is absent and intra-sectoral integration is high for co-operative bank.
Some co-operative banks are scheduled banks, while others are non-scheduled
banks. For instance, SCBs and some UCBs are scheduled banks but other co-operative bank are
non-scheduled banks. At present, 28 SCBs and 11 UCBs with Demand and Time Liabilities over
Rs 50 crore each included in the Second Schedule of the Reserve Bank of India Act.
Co-operative Banks are subject to CRR and liquidity requirements as other scheduled and non-
scheduled banks are. However, their requirements are less than commercial banks. Since 1966
the lending and deposit rate of commercial banks have been directly regulated by the Reserve
Bank of India. Although the Reserve Bank of India had power to regulate the rate co-operative
bank but this have been exercised only after 1979 in respect of non-agricultural advances they
were free to charge any rates at their discretion. Although the main aim of the co-operative bank
is to provide cheaper credit to their members and not to maximize profits, they may access the
money market to improve their income so as to remain viable.
III. PRODUCTS AND SERVICES OFFERED BY BANKS
Broad Classification of Products in a bank:
The different products in a bank can be broadly classified into:

 Retail Banking.
 Trade Finance.
 Treasury Operations.
Retail Banking and Trade finance operations are conducted at the branch level while the
wholesale banking operations, which cover treasury operations, are at the hand office or a
designated branch.
Retail Banking:
 Deposits
 Loans, Cash Credit and Overdraft
 Negotiating for Loans and advances
 Remittances
 Book-Keeping (maintaining all accounting records)
 Receiving all kinds of bonds valuable for safe keeping
Trade Finance:
 Issuing and confirming of letter of credit.
 Drawing, accepting, discounting, buying, selling, collecting of bills of exchange,

promissory notes, drafts, bill of lading and other securities.

Treasury Operations:
 Buying and selling of bullion. Foreign exchange
 Acquiring, holding, underwriting and dealing in shares, debentures, etc.
 Purchasing and selling of bonds and securities on behalf of constituents.
The banks can also act as an agent of the Government or local authority. They
insure, guarantee, underwrite, participate in managing and carrying out issue of shares,
debentures, etc.
Apart from the above-mentioned functions of the bank, the bank provides a whole
lot of other services like investment counseling for individuals, short-term funds management
and portfolio management for individuals and companies. It undertakes the inward and outward
remittances with reference to foreign exchange and collection of varied types for the
Government.
Common Banking Products Available:
Some of common available banking products are explained below:
1) Credit Card: Credit Card is “post paid” or “pay later” card that draws from a credit
line-money made available by the card issuer (bank) and gives one a grace period to pay. If
the amount is not paid full by the end of the period, one is charged interest.
A credit card is nothing but a very small card containing a means of identification,
such as a signature and a small photo. It authorizes the holder to change goods or services to his
account, on which he is billed. The bank receives the bills from the merchants and pays on behalf
of the card holder.

These bills are assembled in the bank and the amount is paid to the bank by the card holder
totally or by installments. The bank charges the customer a small amount for these services. The
card holder need not have to carry money/cash with him when he travels or goes for purchasing.
Credit cards have found wide spread acceptance in the ‘metros’ and big cities.
Credit cards are joining popularity for online payments. The major players in the Credit Card
market are the foreign banks and some big public sector banks like SBI and Bank of Baroda.
India at present has about 3 million credit cards in circulation.
2) Debit Cards: Debit Card is a “prepaid” or “pay now” card with some stored value.
Debit Cards quickly debit or subtract money from one’s savings account, or if one were taking
out cash.
Every time a person uses the card, the merchant who in turn can get the money
transferred to his account from the bank of the buyers, by debiting an exact amount of purchase
from the card. To get a debit card along with a Personal Identification Number (PIN).
When he makes a purchase, he enters this number on the shop’s PIN pad. When
the card is swiped through the electronic terminal, it dials the acquiring bank system – either
Master Card or Visa that validates the PIN and finds out from the issuing bank whether to accept
or decline the transaction. The customer never overspread because the amount spent is debited
immediately from the customers account. So, for the debit card to work, one must already have
the money in the account to cover the transaction. There is no grace period for a debit card
purchase. Some debit cards have monthly or per transaction fees.
Debit Card holder need not carry a bulky checkbook or large sums of cash when
he/she goes at for shopping. This is a fast and easy way of payment one can get debit card
facility as debit cards use one’s own money at the time of sale, so they are often easier than
credit cards to obtain.
The major limitation of Debit Card is that currently only some 3000-4000 shops
country wide accepts it. Also, a person can’t operate it in case the telephone lines are down.
3) Automatic Teller Machine: The introduction of ATM’s has given the customers the
facility of round the clock banking. The ATM’s are used by banks for making the customers
dealing easier. ATM card is a device that allows customer who has an ATM card to perform
routine banking transaction at any time without interacting with human teller. It provides
exchange services. This service helps the customer to withdraw money even when the banks ate
closed. This can be done by inserting the card in the ATM and entering the Personal
Identification Number and secret Password.
ATM’s are currently becoming popular in India that enables the customer to
withdraw their money 24 hours a day and 365 days. It provides the customers with the ability to
withdraw or deposit funds, check account balances, transfer funds and check statement
information. The advantages of ATM’s are many. It increases existing business and generates
new business. It allows the customers.
 To transfer money to and from accounts.
 To view account information.
 To order cash.
 To receive cash.

Advantages of ATM’s:
To the Customers
 ATM’s provide 24 hrs., 7 days and 365 days a year service.
 Service is quick and efficient
 Privacy in transaction
 Wider flexibility in place and time of withdrawals.
 The transaction is completely secure – you need to key in Personal Identification Number
(Unique number for every customer).
To Banks
 Alternative to extend banking hours.
 Crowding at bank counters considerably reduced.
 Alternative to new branches and to reduce operating expenses.
 Relieves bank employees to focus an more analytical and innovative work.
 Increased market penetration.
ATM’s can be installed anywhere like Airports, Railway Stations, Petrol Pumps,
Big Business arcades, markets, etc. Hence, it gives easy access to the customers, for obtaining
cash.
The ATM services provided first by the foreign banks like Citibank, Grind lays
bank and now by many private and public sector banks in India like ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank,
SBI, UTI Bank etc. The ICICI has launched ATM Services to its customers in all the
Metropolitan Cities in India. By the end of 1990 Indian Private Banks and public sector banks
have come up with their own ATM Network in the form of “SWADHAN”. Over the past year
upto 44 banks in Mumbai, Vashi and Thane, have became a part of “SWADHAN” a system of
shared payments networks, introduced by the Indian Bank Association (IBA).
4) E-Cheaques: The e-cheaques consists five primary facts. They are the consumers, the
merchant, consumer’s bank the merchant’s bank and the e-mint and the clearing process. This
cheaquring system uses the network services to issue and process payment that emulates real
world chaquing. The payer issue a digital cheaques to the payee ant the entire transactions are
done through internet. Electronic version of cheaques are issued, received and processed. A
typical electronic cheque transaction takes place in the following manner:
 The customer accesses the merchant server and the merchant server presents its goods to
the customer.
 The consumer selects the goods and purchases them by sending an e-cheque to the
merchant.
 The merchant validates the e-cheque with its bank for payment authorisation.
 The merchant electronically forwards the e-cheque to its bank.
 The merchant’s bank forwards the e-cheque to the clearing house for cashing.
 The clearing house jointly works with the consumer’s bank clears the cheque and
transfers the money to the merchant’s banks.
 The merchant’s bank updates the merchant’s account.
 The consumer’s bank updates the consumer’s account with the withdrawal information.
The e-chequing is a great boon to big corporate as well as small retailers. Most
major banks accept e-cheques. Thus this system offers secure means of collecting payments,
transferring value and managing cash flows.
5) Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT): Many modern banks have computerised their
cheque handling process with computer networks and other electronic equipments. These banks
are dispensing with the use of paper cheques. The system called electronic fund transfer (EFT)
automatically transfers money from one account to another. This system facilitates speedier
transfer of funds electronically from any branch to any other branch. In this system the sender
and the receiver of funds may be located in different cities and may even bank with different
banks. Funds transfer within the same city is also permitted. The scheme has been in operation
since February 7, 1996, in India.
The other important type of facility in the EFT system is automated clearing
houses. These are the computer centers that handle the bills meant for deposits and the bills
meant for payment. In big companies pay is not disbursed by issued cheques or issuing cash. The
payment office directs the computer to credit an employee’s account with the person’s pay.
6) Telebanking: Telebanking refers to banking on phone services.. a customer can access

information about his/her account through a telephone call and by giving the coded Personal
Identification Number (PIN) to the bank. Telebanking is extensively user friendly and effective
in nature.
 To get a particular work done through the bank, the users may leave his instructions in
the form of message with bank.
 Facility to stop payment on request. One can easily know about the cheque status.
 Information on the current interest rates.
 Information with regard to foreign exchange rates.
 Request for a DD or pay order.
 D-Mat Account related services.
 And other similar services.
7) Mobile Banking: A new revolution in the realm of e-banking is the emergence of

mobile banking. On-line banking is now moving to the mobile world, giving everybody with a
mobile phone access to real-time banking services, regardless of their location. But there is much
more to mobile banking from just on-lie banking. It provides a new way to pick up information
and interact with the banks to carry out the relevant banking business. The potential of mobile
banking is limitless and is expected to be a big success. Booking and paying for travel and even
tickets is also expected to be a growth area.
According to this system, customer can access account details on mobile using the
Short Messaging System (SMS) technology6 where select data is pushed to the mobile device.
The wireless application protocol (WAP) technology, which will allow user to surf the net on
their mobiles to access anything and everything. This is a very flexible way of transacting
banking business.
Already ICICI and HDFC banks have tied up cellular service provides such as
Airtel, Orange, Sky Cell, etc. in Delhi and Mumbai to offer these mobile banking services to
their customers.
8) Internet Banking: Internet banking involves use of internet for delivery of banking
products and services. With internet banking is now no longer confirmed to the branches where
one has to approach the branch in person, to withdraw cash or deposits a cheque or request a
statement of accounts. In internet banking, any inquiry or transaction is processed online without
any reference to the branch (anywhere banking) at any time.
The Internet Banking now is more of a normal rather than an exception due to the
fact that it is the cheapest way of providing banking services. As indicated by McKinsey
Quarterly research, presently traditional banking costs the banks, more than a dollar per person,
ATM banking costs 27 cents and internet banking costs below 4 cents approximately. ICICI
bank was the first one to offer Internet Banking in India.
Benefits of Internet Banking:
 Reduce the transaction costs of offering several banking services and diminishes the need
for longer numbers of expensive brick and mortar branches and staff.
 Increase convenience for customers, since they can conduct many banking transaction 24
hours a day.
 Increase customer loyalty.
 Improve customer access.
 Attract new customers.
 Easy online application for all accounts, including personal loans and mortgages
Financial Transaction on the Internet:
Electronic Cash: Companies are developing electronic replicas of all existing payment system:
cash, cheque, credit cards and coins.
Automatic Payments: Utility companies, loans payments, and other businesses use on
automatic payment system with bills paid through direct withdrawal from a bank account.
Direct Deposits: Earnings (or Government payments) automatically deposited into bank
accounts, saving time, effort and money.
Stored Value Cards: Prepaid cards for telephone service, transit fares, highway tolls, laundry
service, library fees and school lunches.
Point of Sale transactions: Acceptance of ATM/Cheque at retail stores and restaurants for
payment of goods and services. This system has made functioning of the stock Market very
smooth and efficient.
Cyber Banking: It refers to banking through online services. Banks with web site “Cyber”
branches allowed customers to check balances, pay bills, transfer funds, and apply for loans on
the Internet.
9) Demat: Demat is short for de-materialisation of shares. In short, Demat is a process

where at the customer’s request the physical stock is converted into electronic entries in the
depository system.
In January 1998 SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) initiated

DEMAT ACCOUNTANCY System to regulate and to improve stock investing. As on date, to
trade on shares it has become compulsory to have a share demat account and all trades take place
through demat.
How to Operate DEMAT ACCOUNT?

One needs to open a Demat Account with any of the branches of the bank. After
opening an account with any bank, by filling the demat request form one can handover the
securities. The rest will be taken care by the bank and the customer will receive credit of shares
as soon as it is confirmed by the Company/Register and Transfer Agent. There is no physical
movement of share certification any more. Any buying or selling of shares is done via electronic
transfers.
1) If the investor wants to sell his shares, he has to place an order with his broker and give a
“Delivery Instruction” to his DP (Depository Participant). The DP will debit hi s account
with the number of shares sold by him.
2) If one wants to buy shares, he has to inform his broker about his Depository Account
Number so that the shares bought by him are credited in to his account.
3) Payment for the electronic shares bought or sold is to be made in the same way as in the
case of physical securities.
IV. BANKING SERVICES
Banking covers so many services that it is difficult to define it. However, these
basic services have always been recognized as the hallmark of the genuine banker. These are…
 The receipt of the customer’s deposits
 The collection of his cheques drawn on other banks
 The payment of the customer’s cheques drawn on himself
There are other various types of banking services like:
1) Advances – Overdraft, Cash Credit, etc.
2) Deposits – Saving Account, Current Account, etc.

3) Financial Services – Bill discounting etc.
4) Foreign Services – Providing foreign currency, travelers cheques, etc.
5) Money Transmission – Funds transfer etc.
6) Savings – Fixed deposits, etc.
7) Services of place or time – ATM Services.
8) Status – Debit Cards, Credit Cards, etc.
Customer Services in Commercial Banks:
Customer service is the service provided in support of a bank’s core products.

Customer service often includes answering questions; handling complaints. Customer service
can occur on site (as when an onstage employee helps a customer or answers a question) or it can
occur over the phone or the Internet. Quality customer service is essential to building cordial
customer relationship.
Banking being a service industry, a lot depends on efficient and prompt customer
service. Customer service is the most important duty of the banking operations. Prompt and
efficient service with smile will develop good public relations reduce complaints and increase
business.
Why is Customer Service Important?
 Changing customer expectations: Today the customer is more demanding and more
sophisticated than he or she was thirty years ago.
 The increased importance of customer service: With changing customer expectations,

competitors are seeing customer service as a competitive weapon with which they
differentiate their products and services.
 The need for a relationship strategy: To ensure that a customer service strategy that
will create a value preposition for customers should be formulated implemented and
controlled. It is necessary to give it a central role and not one that is subsumed in the
various elements of the marketing mix.
The customer is the kingpim in growth organizations like commercial banks. Only
those institutions which work according to his dictates will flourish. Quality, Consistency and
Durability at low price are the final expectations of a customer. Quality will have to be
unambiguous, of world class quality. Quality cannot be of minimum acceptable standards.
Customer responsiveness must be quick and also competent. Speed, performance and cost will
be the new values “mantra” for success.
The ten key areas of customer’s services to be attended timely and regularly are:
i. Submission of statement of A/Cs to customers
ii. Updating of savings pass books.
iii. Teller system efficiency.
iv. Cleanliness and Upkeep of premises.

v. Intermediate Credit for institution cheques/land bills.
vi. Advance intimation to customers for rewards of Term Deposits Receipts on maturity.
vii. Advance for Debit/credit to accounts.
viii. Punctuality of staff.
FOR COMPLETE REPORT AND

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BANKING SERVICES IN INDIA

I. HISTORY OF BANKING IN INDIA

There are three different phases in the history of banking in India.