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Tribune News Service
Jammu/Leh, September 14
In a step to achieve its aim to get the unbanked and under-banked areas to have better access to financial services, the State Bank of India (SBI) today opened its branch in Diskit village, Nubra Valley, in Leh district.
The SBI Chairman, Rajnish Kumar, inaugurated the SBI branch in Diskit village, which is located about 100 km away from Leh, in the presence of Lt Gen YK Joshi, GOC, 14 Corps. The branch has been opened at the altitude of 10,310 ft above sea level. With the population of 1,760 as per 2011 Census, the residents of Diskit can now avail all kind of banking services in their hometown without any hassle of travelling miles to avail banking facilities. The Army personnel deployed in the area, including those up to the Siachen Base Camp, would benefit from opening of this branch. During his visit to Leh, the SBI Chairman also donated cardiac and critical care ambulance to the Army establishment headquarters at 14 Corps in Leh.
“It is a proud moment for SBI to launch a branch for the residents of Diksit who can now get access to all their banking needs without any stress of travelling to far-off places. We will continue empowering citizens of every nook and corner by helping them become financially confident and independent,” Kumar said.
According to the official spokesperson, the SBI has been operating in Jammu & Kashmir since 1923 when Srinagar branch was established.
Currently, the SBI has 184 branches in J&K and Ladakh with 100 in Jammu, 70 in Kashmir and 14 in Ladakh.