Application of Information and Communication Technology in Rural Cooperative Banks: Present and Way Forward

Information and communication technology (ICT) innovation in the Indian banking sector has laid a strong foundation for modern banking services and this led to a paradigm shift in the service offerings to the consumers. In terms of access to both digital and conventional financial services, rural areas have been in a disadvantageous position compared to urban areas. Since Rural Cooperative Banks (RCBs) have a major presence in rural areas, they could play an important role in the delivery of financial services. The Government of India’s (GoI) plans to route all their transfer payments via the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode necessitates RCBs to onboard to digital banking and they have made a commendable effort so far. Nevertheless, to stay relevant in this digital age, they need to continuously adopt technologies that will enable them to address a variety of customers’ banking needs and ensure timely adherence to regulatory and cyber security concerns. They can, thus, participate in GoI’s digital initiatives and increase their outreach while retaining their customer base.