HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, May 1: HDFC Bank introduced a Digital Distribution Platform (DDP) – ‘HDFC Bank Smart Saathi’, a state-of-the-art solution which is built on a robust and digitally enabled technology architecture that provides a secure and user-friendly experience to all its users. This platform will use advanced technology solutions to connect Business Correspondents (BCs) and Business Facilitators (BFs) to the bank.
‘HDFC Bank Smart Saathi’ was launched in Delhi by Vivek Joshi, secretary, Department of Financial Services, and Smita Bhagat, group head, Government and Institutional Business, Alternate Banking Channels and Partnerships, Inclusive Banking Group and Start-Ups, HDFC Bank. Also present on the occasion were Mukesh Bansal, Joint Secretary, Department of Financial Services, as well as senior executives Dinesh Luthra and Ajay Sharma from HDFC Bank.
On the occasion, Vivek Joshi, Secretary, Department of Financial Services, “Digital Platforms such as these will contribute towards fulfilling India’s vision of a cashless economy and true digital financial inclusion. HDFC Bank Smart Saathi will contribute by making banking products and services available, especially credit for rural customers, which will help in the development of our country. However, there are still behavioural changes that are required across some customer segments like farmers transacting at mandis, to make cashless India a bigger success. The Business Correspondents will help in bringing about this behavioural change.”
Smita Bhagat, added, “Over the next 12 to 18 months we plan to reach two lakh villages through a combination of our branches and agent network. The launch of this platform is an important step towards meeting this objective. The prosperity of rural India, where about 70 per cent of our people live, is integral to realising the vision of a USD 5 trillion economy.”
