The union finance minister P Chidambaram today inaugurated 300 new public sector bank branches through virtual mode in Lucknow. This is the first bunch of the 3000 new branches of thirty nationalized banks which are scheduled to be opened upto March 2014 in Uttar Pradesh to cover the very backward areas having minorities, scheduled castes and backward section of the society.

Finance minister termed it as a big leap towards Financial Inclusion of the farmers, women and marginalized section of the society in a state where one branch has to serve 16000 population against the national average of 13000. He termed the move as a major catalyst which will put impetus into the financial growth of the citizens and the state.

Shri Chidambaram also called on the bankers to provide loan facility proactively to all qualified loan seekers. He also announced that by March next year ATM facility will be setup with every bank branch in the country.