Software To Make Cooperaie Banking Easier
Software To Make Cooperaie Banking Easier
Refinance to DCCBs:
The OSCB came into existence to support the lending activities of its affiliated
DCCBs.The Bank provides refinance to them to pursue the following activities.
(i) Farm Credit: to members of the Primary Agriculture Cooperative Societies
(PACS), Large sized Agriculture and Multipurpose Cooperative Societies (LAMPS)
and farmer Services Societies (FSS). The farm credit requirement is met by these
societies by availing loans from the District Credit Cooperative Banks (DCCBs)
(ii) Investment Credit: The Bank has been dispensing investment credit for Minor
Irrigation, Farm Mechanization, Dairy, Poultry, Horticulture, Plantation, Sericulture
etc. through the DCCBs and PACS/LAMPS/FSS. The OSCB, in consultation with
the NABARD and Govt. of Orissa prepares plans and programs
for dispensation of investment credit and closely monitor the financing, utilization
etc.
ii) Non-farm sector Financing:
The OSCB has facilitated the DCCBs diversifying into financing of non-farm sectors.
The DCCBs have been dispensing non-farm credit to small-scale industries in shape
of block capital and working capitals. Loans are also advanced for trading activities,
purchase of commercial vechicles, housing etc. With refinance support from the
OSCB. The branches of the banks are also proving these loans directly.
(iii) Handloom Sectors Financing:
The OSCB has been financing the handloom cooperative societies for production and
marketing through DCCBs. The Odisha State Handloom Wavers Society is directly
financed by the Bank.
Page 1 of 11
2.Introduction:-
Over the last decade, the banks across the country have consistently used technology
to change their operational landscape and presently the Indian Banking system is
undergoing a crucial phase of digitization.
With the banking sector doing experiment the most with technology, the core
banking platforms have rendered banks a strong launch pad to offer digital channel
capabilities.
Almost all banks today are feverishly building their online and mobile channel
offerings. New technologies and functions are being added to the banking system to
enhance customers’ experience.
Observing the success of private banks, the central government appears to be
determined to ensure the same even in smaller cooperative banks. It is being felt that
digitalisation holds the potential to take control of your customer-experience
ecosystem by managing your entire business from customers’ perspective and
rethinking the legacy business model.
The directive was intended to make day-to-day banking system transparent so as to
help in the implementation of various schemes related to agriculture – the core
economic sector in Bihar and ensure that the farmers get fertilisers and seeds in a
transparent manner.
In India, the concept of e-banking is of recent origin. The traditional model for
growth has been through branch banking. Only in the early 1990s, there has been a
start in the non-branch banking services.
In the context of the cooperative banks, a large part of this sector has been
computerised. Whether it is the major loan accounts, the investment operations or
the clearing systems, they all have been computerised at the head office level.
The Cosmos Cooperative Bank, Pune, in Maharsahtra and The Kerela State
Cooperative Bank have moved for core banking solution and many Urban
Cooperative banks are in the process of shifting to core banking.
The Cooperative Banks of all levels — State, District and Cooperative Urban banks —
therefore have to also ensure that technologies are at par with the private banks. It
wouldn’t be erroneous if one observes that slowly but steadily, India’s cooperative
banks are emerging out of technological dark ages.
The cooperative banking sector now tick with a Core Banking System developed by
Software, web services organisation, which has brought them into the technology
mainstream.
The software runs from a remote central server, which individual banks access for
their purposes via Internet. The CBS Software Organisation hosts the service, besides
providing implementation support.
For any core banking project, the major cost heads are application development, data
centre, disaster recovery site/ information security, data capture, hardware and
helpdesk.
In Co-operative Core Banking Solution (CCBS), CBS Software Organisation takes
care of all aspects, except hardware and manpower. As the access is role-based, there
are many security layers to make sure data is kept safe. Role-based access is an
approach by which system access is restricted to only authorised users. Users are
charged as per requirement during the implementation phase.
Page 2 of 11
NIC had developed the system in 2004 for the Bihar State Cooperative Bank (SCB),
which was looking for total branch automation. Other cooperative banks started
showing interest in 2010.
As of now, the CCBS is implemented at more than 100 cooperative banking locations
across Meghalaya and Chhattisgarh. The system operates at the levels of State
Cooperative Banks, District Cooperative Bank (DCB), Primary Agriculture Co-
operative Society (PACS) land development bank and Primary Agriculture
Development Bank (PADB).
CCBS is operating at the Jila Sahakari Kendriya Bank, a district cooperative bank, in
Chhattisgarh. In Meghalaya, 46 SCB branches have been brought under CCBS.
Pilot projects are underway at many more locations. Six thousand PACS in
Rajasthan, 89 PADBs in Punjab, one Chandigarh SCB, three branches of Delhi
Financial Corporation and 315 locations of Treasury Saving Banks in Kerala are using
Co-operative Core Banking Solution.
The solution can be customised depending on local requirements. Meghalaya SCB
still follows old Reserve Bank of India (RBI) clearing guidelines but wanted similar
features in their version.
Banks have records dating back decades, mostly handwritten. NIC had to make sure
that every detail of every account closed or operating was migrated to the servers. For
this special training was imparted to the employees.
During the implementation stage, training is given at three levels: nodal officers,
PACS managers and direct users. There are various checkpoints to ensure the data
entered is correct and complete.
For the smooth functioning of the digitised banks, generators had to be installed in
many places which had little or no electricity supply. Since the software is web-based,
Internet connection is also essential.
All this makes one understand that even the rural banking system is evolving in a big
way. Technology has helped the banks in impacting facilities to rural masses in
getting the same facilities which people are enjoying living in urban India in the
present times.
The followings are the examples of some small cooperative banks who started the
journey in technology by adopting the Software to smoothening the banking
transaction.
Samruddhi Cooperative Bank, Nagpur
Taking the IT revolution ahead, Samruddhi Cooperative Bank based in Maharashtra
launched the lender’s firstever RuPay Card. With India adopting its own bank card, it
turned the world’s sixth country to have its own card after China, Japan, and others.
The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) in a short span facilitated the
launch of RuPay Card and it has reached to small co-operative bank like Samruddhi.
The Government plans to make this co-operative Bank a 100-crore venture.
Technology has helped the banks in impacting facilities to rural masses which
people are enjoying living in urban India.
Page 3 of 11
Mahesh Co-operative Urban Bank , Hyderabad
Telengana’s AP Mahesh Co-operative Urban Bank based in Hyderabad has various
tehno-enabled initiatives and services this year. It is the first co-operative urban
bank in the cooperative sector in South India that is extending tech-savvy services to
its customers on a par with the private sector banks. Presently the bank is
functioning with a network of 42 branches covering four States viz., Telangana,
Andhra, Maharashtra and Rajasthan. After seeing the IT based success in the bank,
the RBI has permitted the bank to extend its network to Gujarat State as well.
Amreli Jilla Madhyastha Sahakari Bank
Taking the IT dream of Prime Minister Narendra Modi forward, Amreli Jilla
Madhyastha Sahakari Bank is using information technology in the cooperative model
to deliver goods to farmers and poor sections of society. It is one of the foremost
banks to introduce Kisan Credit Card.
Rajkot Nagrik Sahakari Bank
The bank has ventured into mobile apps and has made an RNSB Gift application for
distribution of gifts to the shareholders of the bank. Through this app, close to three
lakh members can take appointment online for collecting gifts.
The Co-operative Bank of Rajkot
The Co-operative Bank of Rajkot is equipped with high technology using Enterprise
Banking Solution and Any Branch Banking at all branches for its customers. The
bank has also installed Core Banking Solutions and its 11 branches are equipped with
onsite ATMs.
The bank also provides facilities such as locker at 26 branches, RTGS, NIFT and
Online tax payment through HDFC in Rajkot city. Due to its new IT initiatives, this
cooperative bank has earned a profit of Rs 32 crore this year.
Tiruchi’s Co-operative Banks on digital path
Even the small co-operative banks of Tamil Nadu are implementing Core Banking
Solution. These banks wants to be a part of e-governance, hence slowly but steadily
they are marching towards cutting edge services.
The Tiruchi District Central Cooperative Bank (TDCCB) has effectively brought all 52
branches in Tiruchi, Karur, Ariyalur and Perambalur districts under the CBS. With
the help of CBS, the bank facilitates the transfer of funds through National Electronic
Fund Transfer (NEFT), Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) and Direct Benefit
Transfers (DBT).
Kerela Explores IT Revolution In Co-Operative Banks
The Kerala government also wants to revive cooperative banks in the state by
providing technological push to them. The government is exploring possibilities of
tie-ups between these banks and technology companies to provide technology.
Page 4 of 11
In a significant move, 11 co-operative banks in Karnataka, including banks from
Kushwagi, Maski, Gangavati, and Bellari, have signed a one-time core banking deal
with VSoft Technologies, a global provider of next-generation banking business
services for financial institutions with operations in USA and India. The banks will
soon use VSoft's Iris Core Banking Solution, which will be hosted from VSoft's data
center (DC) in Hyderabad, on the hosted Software-as-a-Service model. The eleven
banks inlcude Sandur Pattana Souharda Sahakari Bank Ltd., Sandur; Tavaragera
Pattana Souharda Sahakari Bank Niyamitha, Tavaragera; Bellary Urban Co-
Operative Bank Ltd.; Hanamasagar Urban Co-Operative Bank Ltd.; Adarsha Pattana
Souhardha Sahakari Bank Niyamitha, Harapanahalli; The Hospet Co-operative City
Bank, Hospet; Sri Gavisiddeshwara Urban Cooperative Bank Ltd, Koppal; Kushtagi
Pattana Sahakara Bank Niyamita, Kushtagi; Sri Mallikarjuna Pattana Sahakari Bank,
Maski; Mudgal UCB, Mudgal; and Sriramnagar Pattana Sahakari Bank Ltd.,
Sriramnagar.
VSoft has implemented IRIS CBS in over 360+ branches of the Odisha State Co-
operative Bank (OSCB) and its District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs). The
project is a significant milestone in large-scale digitization efforts in the country and
has today enabled OSCB to bring all its branches and institutions in the entire State
of Odisha onto a common technology platform to serve over four million individual
customers.
OSCB chose VSoft Technologies as its partner for execution of the project on a
turnkey basis. VSoft Technologies, working in close conjunction with its partners and
the bank, built the Data Center and installed its comprehensive, web-based core
processing solution, SuVikas for the bank.
VSoft Technologies offers platform-based services for the BFSI industry. The core
banking and payment processing services reduce cost and maximize efficiency while
providing seamless, real-time, high-volume and high-performance transactions
across multiple channels. The VSoft platform can be delivered in-house, or as an
Page 5 of 11
outsourced ASP or SaaS model to best meet the needs of individual financial
institutions. VSoft’s services have been trusted by more than 2,600 financial
institutions worldwide.
Key Features:
Complete front and back office solution
Easy for adapting to different Indian practices
Web-based technology Open Source Operating System and Database
Single view of all customer relationships
Adequately parameterized
Platform-independent, currently available for both
Windows and Linux platforms
Full suite of analysis and RBI reports
Interface for ATM, RTGS/NEFT, mobile, CTS, file based clearing, ECS, Internet
banking, information kiosks etc.
Important Features
Web-based technology
Platform-independent – available for both Windows and Linux platforms
Simple and user-friendly graphical user interface (GUI)
Supports multiple regional languages.
Allows setting up of new types of loans and deposits
Streamlines postings to general ledger
Full suite of analysis and MIS reports – as per CAS
Automates interest calculation and posting
Page 6 of 11
4.1 Benefits of E-banking Software:
1. To the Customer:
Anywhere Banking no matter wherever the customer is in the world. Balance
enquiry, request for services, issuing instructions etc., from anywhere in the world
is possible. Anytime Banking Managing funds in real time and most importantly,
24 hours a day, 7days a week. Convenience acts as a tremendous psychological
benefit all the time brings down Cost of Banking• to the customer over a period a
period of time. Cash withdrawal from any branch / ATM On-line purchase of goods
and services including online payment for the same. Innovative, scheme, addresses
competition and present the bank as technology driven in the banking sector
market. Reduces customer visits to the branch and thereby human intervention
Inter-branch reconciliation is immediate thereby reducing chances of fraud and
misappropriation .On-line banking is an effective medium of promotion of various
schemes of the bank, a marketing tool indeed. Integrated customer data paves way
for individualized and customized services.
With automation, service no longer remains a marketing edge with the large banks
only. Small and relatively new banks with limited network of branches become
better placed to compete with the established banks, by integrating IT in their
operations.
The technology has commoditizing some of the financial services. Therefore the
banks cannot take a lifetime relationship with the customers as granted and they
have to work continuously to foster this relationship and retain customer loyalty.
The technology on one hand serves as a powerful tool for customer servicing, on the
other hand, it itself results in depersonalizing of the banking services. This has an
adverse effect on relationship banking. A decade of computerization can probably
never substitute a simple or a warm handshake.
In order to reduce service delivery cost, banks need to automate routine customer
inquiries through self-service channels. To do this they need to invest in call
centers, kiosks, ATM's and Internet Banking today require IT infrastructure
integrated with their business strategy to be customer centric.
Page 8 of 11
5. Suggestions:
There is an urgent need to strengthen data dissemination practices of the NABARD.
There is also a need to consolidate the process of compiling data of PACS and this
should be done by a professional statistical organisation. In this regard it is proposed
to suggest measures to overcome the problems and bridge the data gap of data base
relating to cooperative credit system and some are given as below:
1) Establishment of national level agency:
Appropriate steps may be initiated to establish a single agency at the national level to
ensure collection and compilation and maintenance of data base on Indian
cooperative credit institutions.
2) Support to apex level agencies:
Apex level agencies such as RBI, NABARD, NAFSCOB, NCUI and other sectoral
federations have been doing fairly good job in addressing the issue of maintenance of
data base. Therefore, they should be encouraged to continue to work in the direction
of maintenance of data base on the Indian cooperative credit system.
3) Cross-checking mechanism:
Office of Registrar of Cooperative Societies should take steps in cross checking of
data base at levels of SCBs, DCCBs and PACS.
4) Standardized format:
Developing standardized, uniform and comprehensive formats, preferably in local
languages is required in collection of data/information to reduce incidences of
duplication, error in data furnishing, multiplicity of data collection and for bridging
data gap etc.
5) Computerization:
Process of computerization at the level of PACS, particularly under the revised
revival package, needs to be implemented in all its seriousness, equip the PACS with
adequate trained personnel to develop and implement core data base as well as
collect and compile data/information as per the prescribed format by the higher
tier/agencies. To remove problems and achieve desired results in maintaining data
base in rural credit cooperative system, it is necessary to computerize whole rural
cooperative credit system.
6) Coordination of data base at NAFSCOB level:
NAFSCOB proved its excellent potentiality in maintaining comprehensive database
of SCBs, DCCBs, and PACS. Therefore, this responsibility needs to be entirely
handled by the three/two tiers of the ST credit structure at the state level and
coordinated by NAFSCOB at national level. It should be appropriately supported by
central government, RBI and NABARD in the form of infrastructure and finance to
help to build data base on the rural cooperative credit system on all required
parameters to bridge the data gap.
8) Need for improvement in efficiency:
Each of the sectoral federations responsible for data collection, compilation, analysis
and dissemination of the data, will have to develop a mechanism to ensure efficiency
level of data entry/feeding to the system. National level agencies namely RBI,
NABARD, NAFSCOB and NCUI need to coordinate their efforts collectively to ensure
authenticity, accuracy, accountability to prevent duplication of data collection, loss of
time and also to ensure easy, smooth and regular flow of data information.
9) Assessment of credit needs of the farmers:
None of the national level agencies have ever undertaken an exercise to assess the
credit needs of the farmers, certainly a major data gap. In view of the emerging
Page 9 of 11
importance accorded to farmers towards development of agriculture, there is a need
for undertaking an in-depth study on “Assessment of Credit Needs of the Farmers”.
Therefore, an independent agency may be engaged to conduct the study on this
aspect once in five years.
10) Census of Indian cooperative credit system:
Similarly, as has been done in the case of small scale industries, handlooms, power
looms and population census etc., a separate mechanism may be developed to
conduct survey of the entire Indian cooperative credit system. This work may be
entrusted to one of the reputed organizations.
11) NABARD and data base:
NABARD in consultation with national level federations including NAFSCOB may
initiate all necessary steps in ensuring maintenance of data base and their
appropriate dissemination. Further NABARD may take initiative to organize a one
day consultation in order to discuss recommendations of various committees and to
appreciate the methods adopted by different agencies in collection, compilation,
analysis and dissemination of data to standardize formats for data collection.
12) Appropriate methodology:
The recommendations made by National Statistical Commission and also the
recommendations made by the High Level Committee on Estimation of Savings and
Investments under the Chairmanship of Dr. C. Rangarajan, such as measures to
improve the present system of collection of data, timely availability of publication on
Statistical Statement Relating to the Cooperative Movement in India, bridge the time
gap in bringing out the publication and other important recommendations may be
given wider publicity. Further, it is worth to peruse the existing procedures adopted
by the agencies such as RBI, NABARD, NAFSCOB etc. in collecting the data of
cooperative credit institutions.
6. Conclusion:
An attempt has been made in this paper to discuss the status of data base in
cooperative credit system in India. The highlights of recommendations of a number
of committees on data base, the status of data gaps and suggestions to bridge these
gaps are also presented in the paper. Sincere efforts to strengthen the data base of
rural cooperative credit system may be made. The problems like duplication of data,
lack of computerization, time gap in publication of data base and data gap etc. need
to be addressed for improving the efficiency of data base system of rural cooperative
credit system. Mechanism to maintain regular availability of data, standardization of
formats, and ensure reliability of data may have to be developed. Finally, efforts to
set-up national level agency for maintaining data base of rural cooperative credit
system may be made.
Alternatively, NAFSCOB may be assisted to address issues involved in data base of
Cooperative credit system.
Page 10 of 11
7. Reference:
1. http://www.vsoft.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/NABARD-Lauds-OSCB-
for-Successful-Implementation-of.pdf
2. www.nafscob.org
3. http://searchsqlserver.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid87_gci211895,00.html
4. http://www.domain-b.com/economy/general/20090318_rangarajan_panel.html
5. Report of the High Level Committee on Estimation of Savings and Investment
(March 2009) - Dr. C. Rangarajan.
6. Report of the Expert Group on Investment Credit (June 2005)- YSP Thorat.
7. Expert Group on Internet Deployment of Central Data base Management System
(September, 2004)- A. Vaidyanathan.
8. Report of the Expert Group on Agricultural Indebtedness (July 2007)- R.
Radhakrishna.
9. Report of the Technical Group on Statistics for International Trade in Banking
Services (March, 2007) – Dr. KSR Rao.
10. Report of Committee on Financial Sector Assessment (CFSA-2009)- Rakesh
Mohan.
11. Report of Advisory Group on Data Dissemination in Indian Financial Sector
(December, 1999) – Dr. Y.V.Reddy.
12. Report on the conditions of work and promotion of Livelihood in the
Unorganisaed Sector (2004)- Arjun Sengupta.
13. “Feasibility Study for Computerisation in Short Term Cooperative Credit
Institutions”, NAFSCOB.
Page 11 of 11