TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN BANKING
During recent years commercial banks in India have adopted new technologies and have introduced innovative methods in performing their various business operations. As a consequence a bank branch now depicts a picture far different from the one that existed a decade back. This supplement briefly highlights the important technological developments involving banking practices:
(1) Full Computerisation of Branches
Most of the commercial banks have completely computerized most of the branches. Inter-connected computers have been installed at various desks in the bank premises. Entire accounting work is now handled by the computers. Thus bulky ledgers and other account books have been done away with. Even Pass Books are prepared with computer-printers. Automatic note counting machines have also been used in many branches. With computerization, banks render services to their customers much faster and economically.
(2) Telebanking
Many customers of the banks want to make necessary queries about their account’s position. Telebanking is an automated banking solution for handling such queries speedily. Under this system, a telephone line is connected to the telebanking computer. When a customer makes a call, the system picks up the call and attends the same. Thus the customers can get information about the balance in their accounts, a few last transactions, status of any particular debit or credit and may request the bank to send statement on fax. Thus accounts details may be obtained by a customer on phone itself, without visiting the bank branch.
(3) Automated Teller Machines (ATMs)
Automated teller machines have been installed by many banks within the branch premises as well as at other locations to facilitate withdrawal of money by the depositor as per their convenience any time during the day and on all days of the year. Banks store requisite number of currency notes in these machines and issue ATM cards to their customers to enable them to withdraw money from ATMs. These cards are plastic cards on which the name of the card holder and the card number engraved. A password is also allotted to the card holder. When the card holder wants to withdraw money at the ATM, he applies his card at the proper place and pushes the relevant buttons indicating his password and the amount required to be withdrawn. The machine will read necessary details of the card, record the payment and tender necessary currency notes and issues to the card holder a slip indicating the transaction and the closing balance in his account. The ATMs are connected to the computers at the branch concerned, which records the transaction immediately. Banks prescribe the ceiling limit also on the amount that can be withdrawn at any time at an ATM.
Thus the cost of transaction to the bank is reduced and the customer withdraws money easily & conveniently at any time of his choice.
Now many banks share their ATMs with one or more other banks also. A customer is thus benefited as he is able to transact his business from any ATM nearest to him, irrespective of his bank.
(4) Internet Banking
Banks are now using the services of internet to deliver round-the-clock services to their customer at lowest possible costs. Under the Internet Banking Service, the customer can operate their bank accounts from their homes or workplace through their desktop computers. A number of banking services such as Statement of Account, balance enquiry, transfer of funds, requisitioning for a cheque book, stop payment instructions, order for a draft, are available through Internet. Access to Internet is available at all times on any day from anywhere in the world. Banks have recently introduced online payment facility for online railway reservations through IRCTC Payment Gateway Project.
(5) Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT)
Electronic Fund Transfer scheme enables transfer of funds within the city or between cities and between branches of a bank and across banks. It is a non-conventional mode of retail funds transfer which uses RBI-EFT scheme. It is now available at 15 centres in the country. The maximum limit for any single transaction under EFT has been enhanced to Rs. 2 crore. Under the scheme credit is being given to the beneficiary’s account on the same day. It is paperless money transfer system, which is available to all the account holders of a bank. Under this system one branch of the Reserve Bank of India transfers money to another branch by code signals, from there it is credited to beneficiary’s account in the bank concerned. Thus it is a very safe, reliable, quick and economical means of transfer of funds.
(6) Electronic Clearing Services (ECS)
This scheme facilitates faster credit of interest and dividends to investor’s accounts directly by the companies and thus avoids delays and frauds. Under this scheme corporate bodies can make payment of interest and dividends to their creditors / shareholders without issuing paper instruments. For this purpose the creditors / shareholders are required by corporates to furnish to them the code number of their bank’s branch and their own bank account number. These details are passed on to the company’s bankers with the instruction to remit specified amounts to the credit of the shareholders / creditors account. Banks comply with the instruction by using RBI-EFT scheme.
The scheme has several advantages. Chances of interception in post and fraudulent encashment of cheques are totally eliminated. Payments are made on the due date without investor visiting their banks. Moreover, corporates save expenditure on printing, dispatching & reconciliation of paper instruments.