The UKaid Sakchyam Access to Finance Programme has partnered with banks and financial institutions to establish a total of 364 Branch Less Banking touch points (BLB) in 32 districts. Of the 364, 173 are being established in earthquake-affected districts, whereas 191 are being established in the mid- and far-western development regions. Due to the April 25, 2015 earthquake, a large number of branches of BFIs were severely damaged, affecting the quality and access to financial services in the 14 most affected districts. To this end, Sakchyam partnered with 7 commercial banks through a competitive process to launch the ‘Sakchyam Earthquake Response BLB Programme’ to restore financial and banking services in the affected areas as well as to expand the outreach of financial institutions to move relief money in an efficient and transparent manner. As of March 31, 2016, the programme has launched 123 BLB touch points across all 14 of the earthquake-affected districts. Sakchyam is also partnering with 8 BFIs for the establishment of 191 BLB touch points in the Mid-Western and Far Western Development Regions of Nepal (Figure-3). As of March 31, 2016, 13 BLB touch points have been established and have started operations.
Transactional and Performance Updates Till Date
Before Sakchyam’s intervention, there were around 500 BLB touch points across Nepal out of which only 300 were operational. With the addition of Sakchyam’s 364 BLB touch points, the total number of BLB touch points will reach around 900. Besides the BLB touch points already commissioned till date, Sakchyam is continuously seeking more partners who want to contribute to the BLB initiative. As such, the number of BLB touch points could potentially be greater than currently estimated.
For more details, download the complete Branch Less Banking Programme Update here.
Contact
info@sakchyam.com.np
+977.1.4721284 | 4721269
House no. 98/52 | Ward #4 | Chundevi Marg | Kathmandu | Nepal