School banking is gaining popularity in the country as the number of bank accounts opened by the school going children and the outstanding deposit in the accounts increased significantly in the last one year, said officials of the Bangladesh Bank.
According to the latest BB data, the number of school banking accounts more than tripled in June 2013-June 2012.
The number grew to 2,24,719 as on June 30 this year from 67,220 as on June 30 last year.
The outstanding deposit in the bank accounts also increased significantly in the period as the deposit increased to Tk 128.47 crore as on June 30 this year from Tk 53.18 crore as on June 30 last year.
The BB on November 2 in 2010 asked all scheduled banks to introduce school banking in a bid to boost the financial inclusion across the country and encourage the school students to build habit of saving money.
A BB official told New Age on Thursday that the school banking was rapidly gaining popularity in the country due mainly to its some specific features including safe deposit and insurance coverage for the children.
Besides, the majority of the banks have recently taken different types of initiatives to popularise the school banking among guardians and parents of the school going children, he said.
Some banks have offered to bear study cost up to 18 years of the account holder students in case they lose their parents, the BB official said.
As on June 30 this year, a total of 46 out of 56 scheduled banks operating in the country introduced school banking, the BB data showed.
With the local commercial banks 2,15,597 accounts were opened by the school going children and the outstanding deposit in the account stood at Tk 124.33 crore as on June 30.
With the four state-owned banks – Sonali, Janata, Agrani and Rupali – 4,270 accounts were opened the outstanding deposit in the accounts stood at Tk 1.47 crore as on June 30.
With 30 local private commercial banks 2,15,597 accounts were opened and the outstanding deposit in the account stood at Tk 124.33 crore as on June 30.
School going children opened 4,279 accounts with the four specialised development banks and deposited Tk 1.05 as on June 30 and they opened 573 accounts with the foreign commercial banks and deposited Tk 1.62 crore in the period.
-With New Age input
