HNB opens first Micro Banking Unit at Kurunduwatte

Hatton National Bank in the early 1970's, moved into Debarawewa and Kebethi-gollewa to create access to the rural farmers, entre-preneurs and youth. Ever since then, the Bank has made significant inroads with the rural population of the country.

Minister of Power, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, MD/CEO of HNB, Rajendra Theagarajah, and Deputy General Manager M & RB of HNB, Chandula Abeywickrema at the opening ceremony.

In 1989, the Bank took its first step to downscale to the people at the bottom of the pyramid by launching the first ever micro finance program now globally known as Gami Pubuduwa and in the last two decades the Bank opened its doors for more people in more places, particularly in the rural setting in Sri Lanka to have access to Micro-savings, Micro-lending, Money transfer services and of late Micro-insurance. To further cement its affinity with the rural Sri Lankans in the area of agriculture and agri-processing industry, the Bank has now devised a new model to expand into rural Sri Lanka by setting up Micro Banking Units with the main focus in bringing financial inclusion to rural Sri Lanka and youth of the country.

Kurunduwatte is a newly developed model town and is a concept of Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage. The development of the basic infrastructure facilities of the town have now been completed and the commercialization is now in progress.

The Kurunduwatte AGA Division comprises 31 Gramaseva (GS) Divisions. A number of Government Institutions have been established within the newly developed town such as the Police Station, Hospital, Central Bus Stand, Electricity Board, Agrarian Centre, Co-operative Sales Centre. Many tea factories are also situated in the area, which are owned by both private and reputed companies. The main source of income of the area is agriculture, which comprises mainly of tea and perennial crops.

The area has a growing need for banking services, particularly in the agriculture sector as well as commercial sectors.

HNB Micro Banking Unit fulfils the promise of Gami Pubuduwa by making financial services accessible to people in rural areas with the commencement of the first Micro Banking Unit at Kurunduwatte, Nawalapitiya through a fully equipped IT infrastructure and providing of ATM facilities to the community.