The first ever school banking conference held in the city on Saturday with an aim to intimating the students with banking habit.
The Bangladesh Bank and the scheduled banks jointly organised the programme at the Bangladesh Bank Training Academy with the presence of students of different city schools.
Atiur Rahman, the governor of the BB which introduced school banking in 2010, said that the central bank was planning to start financial literacy programme soon to make people learn more about banking and teach the children about money management skill.
Academician Muhammad Jafar Iqbal and senior bank officials were present, among others, with SK Sur Chowdhury, deputy governor of the BB, was in the chair.
Five private commercial banks —Dutch-Bangla Bank, Eastern Bank, First Security Islami Bank, United Commercial Bank and Islami Bank Bangladesh — were awarded at the conference for their best performances for facilitating the school banking services across the country.
According to the BB data, at least 45 commercial banks have introduced school banking services and facilitated opening up Tk 10 bank accounts for 1.87 lakh students as of March 2013.
The students deposited a total of Tk 114 crore making an average deposit of Tk 6,100 each student in the accounts, BB data showed.
In November 2010, the BB asked all commercial banks to set up the school banking branches across the country to motivate the students with the savings habit from their early age.
Apart of financial literacy scheme, a campaign programme will be carried out through the media about financial literacy in an easier way for the children, Atiur said.
He said that the BB would also put a web-link on banking operation issues on its official web site by posting features, stories and video games so that the children can learn about financial activities.
It will also set up a currency-museum at the BB’s training academy so that the children able to know the history of the currencies.
Atiur said that school banking conference would be organised every year and the next conference would be held at a district in northern part of the country.
Jafar Iqbal said through the school banking services a savings habit was growing up among the school going children which might contribute to the economy of the country.
-With New Age input
