Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that banks need to be run professionally and assured them that there would be no interference.

Mr. Modi also called for an end to lazy banking and said that banks need to take a pro-active role in helping the common man.

The Prime Minister was addressing top executives of public sector banks and other financial institutions in Pune on the last day of a two-day bankers' retreat, 'Gyan Sangam'.

Mr. Modi said, he is against any political interference in functioning of banks but supports necessary intervention in the public interest.

Calling upon the banking sector to establish banks which rank among the top banks of the world, he said, political intervention will enable the voice of the common man to reach such institutions.

The Prime Minister said, as part of Corporate Social Responsibility, banks should take up one sector each year to play a positive role and should redefine parameters for success and prioritize loans to enterprises that generate more employment.

Mr. Modi also asked the banks to develop dedicated teams to fight cyber crimes and also highlighted the issue of poor financial literacy in the country.

The two-day retreat is being attended by top bankers and was also addressed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley as well as Reserve Bank Governor Raghuram Rajan.