Karmasangsthan Bank (KB) has planned to expand its network by introducing some new loan schemes with a view to involving more unemployed youths in the economic activities. “We’ve a plan to set up 42 more branches in the current fiscal year,” KB managing director Mustak Ahmed said, adding that the bank will gradually expand its operation in all upazilas.

At present, the bank has a total of 208 branches covering all divisional headquarters and 144 upazilas.
Although development of agro-based industries is a major area of the bank’s credit programmes, it has also separate programme for parents of child labours, said Mustak Ahmed.

From the current fiscal year, the bank will introduce some new loan schemes that include providing credit support to overseas jobseekers, unemployed physicians for setting up chambers and clinics and ICT experts to start cybercafe, and other ICT-related businesses.

“I think these new credit programmes will help create employment opportunities for those youths who are skilled but unemployed,” he added.

Established in 1998, the bank has so far provided loans worth Tk 1211 crores to 222,670 clients and this credit support has created employment opportunities for more than eight lakh people across the country.

Source: The Independent / Bangladesh/ 19h Nov 2011