Peoples Bank
People’s Bank focuses on Nation Building and Wealth Creation in the North
October 21, 2009
As the economic system and the society of the country changed over the decades, People’s Bank has always managed to provide the best possible banking solutions to its customers by adapting to the changing socio economic conditions. Currently People’s Bank consists of 654 branches and service centres, which are located islandwide, out of which 14 branches are located in the Northern Province and have continuously been in operation even during the times of conflict. Speaking to The Island, CEO/General Manager of People’s Bank – Mr. P.V. Pathirana stated that, “We are geared to expand our services in the war affected areas under the ‘Uthuru Wasanthaya’ program which has been launched with the aim of rebuilding North.” He is of the view that under the program, the bank has formulated a sustainable plan to strengthen Sri Lanka’s economy and to achieve this goal the bank has utilized all relevant banking techniques and solutions throughout the island.
The bank has always taken initiative and played a pivotal role in the development of the Sri Lankan economy. Pathirana says their plan encompasses the development of rural industries, including farming, animal husbandry and fisheries by introducing an array of savings and loan schemes to those in the rural areas, to improve their standard of living while assisting them in their business activities. The success stories of small scale entrepreneurs, retailers and industrialists are numerous, and are ever increasing, a praise worthy point for People’s Bank.
Carrying forward its people friendly service tradition, People’s Bank has taken pioneering steps to provide banking services to the internally displaced people in the North, who live in relief villages. People’s Bank covers all the relief villages providing the occupants with complete banking services including access to PET automated teller machines. Hither to people in the relief villages have deposited over Rs. 1 billion in cash with People’s Bank, in addition to jewelry and other valuables. Pathirana further stressed that apart from the financial services rendered, People’s Bank employees including pensioners, its subsidiaries, trade unions and religious societies, etc., have come forward to grant a substantial quantity of food and clothing whilst making a donation of over 265 lakhs to fulfill the housing needs of displaced people. In addition, the bank contributed enormously towards the reconstruction of ‘Uthru Mithuru’ Yal Devi rail track. Focusing on rebuilding the lives of the people in the war affected areas; People’s Bank has introduced loan schemes with low interest rates for individuals who are engaged in agriculture, animal husbandry and fisheries.
People’s Bank has already opened a number of service centers covering Jaffna, Wanni, Batticaloa and Trincomalee regions. Those service centres include Jaffna Vavalar Road, Pandatherippu, Kalviyankadu, Puloly, Kopay, Puttur, Uduppidy in the Jaffna region, Kurumankadu, Chettikulam, Pesalai, Nanattan in the Wanni region, Kokkkadicholai, Wakarei, Puthur in Batticaloa region and Kachchaikuduthiv, Thoppur in the Trincomalee region amongst many others. “As we progress towards the future our aim is to contribute to the national development process more effectively,” stated the GM, “Mainly we are focused on generating employment opportunities for the people in war affected areas whilst providing infrastructure which plays a critical role in overall long-term development. Even though disturbed by a 30 year long war, the Northern and Eastern provinces are rich in fertile land and other resources. We at People’s Bank are rolling out an action plan to support the people in these areas, and thereby to eradicate unemployment.”
Not stopping there, as the latest step in the ‘Awakening of the North’ program, People’s Bank is now helping to plant the seeds of knowledge in the hearts and minds of even the little children of the North and East. The ‘Piyum Vila’ project, which is designed to train teachers, instructors and other staff members on their important role in behavioral therapy to students facing the grade 5 scholarship examinations, has been backed by the bank since its inception and now has been successfully taken to the North and East of the country as well. Out of the 60 programs held this year alone, 8 of them have been organized within the relief zones such as Mannar, Muttur, Settikulam and Vavuniya etc.
“Uplifting the lives of the younger generations has always been at the forefront of all People’s Bank social responsibility initiatives,’ avers Pathirana. ‘Our Scholarship schemes and workshops for both Year 5 students and Ordinary Level students take a special place in these activities. Realizing the void in these initiatives been taken to the North and East, we, through the Sisu Udana Children’s Accounts and under the leadership of the Government, have reached out to the little children of the region, distributing school books and supplies, helping open their minds to the world of knowledge and learning.” It is noteworthy that out of all People’s Bank savings schemes, the students’ savings schemes can be considered as most important and testimony to that is the fact that more than 50% of Sri Lanka’s student population saves within a People’s Bank branch or a Student Savings Unit within the schools.
As a state entity that not only provides banking services to the general public but also works towards the betterment of the society, the efforts taken to develop the private and public sector has resulted in People’s Bank being crowned as the people’s best loved bank for three consecutive years, as well as being awarded the highest rating in the banking and finance sector at the Brand Finance ratings. As the bankers of aspiring people in Sri Lanka, whilst passing the 48th milestone in unsurpassed service towards the nation, People’s Bank vows to continue to fulfill the needs of its valued customers and make a better future for all Sri Lankans.
The bank has always taken initiative and played a pivotal role in the development of the Sri Lankan economy. Pathirana says their plan encompasses the development of rural industries, including farming, animal husbandry and fisheries by introducing an array of savings and loan schemes to those in the rural areas, to improve their standard of living while assisting them in their business activities. The success stories of small scale entrepreneurs, retailers and industrialists are numerous, and are ever increasing, a praise worthy point for People’s Bank.
Carrying forward its people friendly service tradition, People’s Bank has taken pioneering steps to provide banking services to the internally displaced people in the North, who live in relief villages. People’s Bank covers all the relief villages providing the occupants with complete banking services including access to PET automated teller machines. Hither to people in the relief villages have deposited over Rs. 1 billion in cash with People’s Bank, in addition to jewelry and other valuables. Pathirana further stressed that apart from the financial services rendered, People’s Bank employees including pensioners, its subsidiaries, trade unions and religious societies, etc., have come forward to grant a substantial quantity of food and clothing whilst making a donation of over 265 lakhs to fulfill the housing needs of displaced people. In addition, the bank contributed enormously towards the reconstruction of ‘Uthru Mithuru’ Yal Devi rail track. Focusing on rebuilding the lives of the people in the war affected areas; People’s Bank has introduced loan schemes with low interest rates for individuals who are engaged in agriculture, animal husbandry and fisheries.
People’s Bank has already opened a number of service centers covering Jaffna, Wanni, Batticaloa and Trincomalee regions. Those service centres include Jaffna Vavalar Road, Pandatherippu, Kalviyankadu, Puloly, Kopay, Puttur, Uduppidy in the Jaffna region, Kurumankadu, Chettikulam, Pesalai, Nanattan in the Wanni region, Kokkkadicholai, Wakarei, Puthur in Batticaloa region and Kachchaikuduthiv, Thoppur in the Trincomalee region amongst many others. “As we progress towards the future our aim is to contribute to the national development process more effectively,” stated the GM, “Mainly we are focused on generating employment opportunities for the people in war affected areas whilst providing infrastructure which plays a critical role in overall long-term development. Even though disturbed by a 30 year long war, the Northern and Eastern provinces are rich in fertile land and other resources. We at People’s Bank are rolling out an action plan to support the people in these areas, and thereby to eradicate unemployment.”
Not stopping there, as the latest step in the ‘Awakening of the North’ program, People’s Bank is now helping to plant the seeds of knowledge in the hearts and minds of even the little children of the North and East. The ‘Piyum Vila’ project, which is designed to train teachers, instructors and other staff members on their important role in behavioral therapy to students facing the grade 5 scholarship examinations, has been backed by the bank since its inception and now has been successfully taken to the North and East of the country as well. Out of the 60 programs held this year alone, 8 of them have been organized within the relief zones such as Mannar, Muttur, Settikulam and Vavuniya etc.
“Uplifting the lives of the younger generations has always been at the forefront of all People’s Bank social responsibility initiatives,’ avers Pathirana. ‘Our Scholarship schemes and workshops for both Year 5 students and Ordinary Level students take a special place in these activities. Realizing the void in these initiatives been taken to the North and East, we, through the Sisu Udana Children’s Accounts and under the leadership of the Government, have reached out to the little children of the region, distributing school books and supplies, helping open their minds to the world of knowledge and learning.” It is noteworthy that out of all People’s Bank savings schemes, the students’ savings schemes can be considered as most important and testimony to that is the fact that more than 50% of Sri Lanka’s student population saves within a People’s Bank branch or a Student Savings Unit within the schools.
As a state entity that not only provides banking services to the general public but also works towards the betterment of the society, the efforts taken to develop the private and public sector has resulted in People’s Bank being crowned as the people’s best loved bank for three consecutive years, as well as being awarded the highest rating in the banking and finance sector at the Brand Finance ratings. As the bankers of aspiring people in Sri Lanka, whilst passing the 48th milestone in unsurpassed service towards the nation, People’s Bank vows to continue to fulfill the needs of its valued customers and make a better future for all Sri Lankans.