Lok Sabha Bharatiya Mahila Bank (BMB) as part of its initial expansion plan has requested the Finance Secretaries of 17 State Governments, inter-alia, to consider allotting space for setting up of branches of the bank in State Government buildings or State Corporation buildings at a token lease of Rs.1. BMB has received response only from two States i.e. Odisha and Jharkhand. Further, the BMB has also issued advertisements for providing premises in these States. In this context, the Government has also requested certain States for necessary assistance in finding suitable space for setting-up of BMB.

This was stated by Minister of State for Finance, Shri Namo Narain Meena, in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.

Token lease for branch premises sought; limited state response, advertisements and requests for assistance followed. Bhartiya Mahila Bank requested Finance Secretaries of 17 States to allot space in State Government or State Corporation buildings on a token lease for branch expansion; only Odisha and Jharkhand responded, the Bank has advertised for premises in those States, and the Government has sought further State assistance in locating suitable sites.