DIBRUGARH, June 29 - All the branches of State Bank of India (SBI) of greater Dibrugarh took pride in celebrating the 210th foundation day of the financial institution in coordination with Dibrugarh Municipal Board (DMB) at the municipal office campus here on Sunday.
SBI was formerly known as Imperial Bank of India. The Imperial Bank of India established on January 27, 1921 was an amalgamation of three Presidency Banks of colonial India � Bank of Bengal (erstwhile Bank of Calcutta, established in 1806), Bank of Bombay and the Bank of Madras. Imperial Bank of India transformed into SBI on July 1, 1955 as per the State Bank of India Act 1955.
The celebration here holds special significance because the first branch of Imperial Bank of India in North-east was located here in the present day local Judicial Court building. The branch here was established on May 1, 1923 and the founder of The Assam Tribune group, Radha Govinda Baruah was the first Assamese employee of the bank.
The foundation day function was attended by senior citizens, customers, local citizens and officials of different branches of the bank. The function presided over by Tilak Kumar Dhar, Deputy General Manager (B&O), State Bank of India Administrative Office here.
The guests included senior citizen Dr Sunil Borthakur,
Additional Deputy Commissioner Anjanabh Chaliha, and Principal of Assam Medical College and Hospital (AMCH), Dr Ratan Kumar Kotokey.
DGM Dhar in his speech described the journey of the bank since 1806, when Bank of Calcutta was established, till date and how the glory of 210 years of banking experience was attained by State Bank of India.
He said that 210 years of journey of State Bank of India was not so smooth one. �The bank had reached to its present position through various struggles; overcoming various difficulties and obstacles.
Several branches of the bank are incurring losses even today but we are still reaching out to the masses with missionary zeal. Banking is not merely a business for us but taking part in the inclusive growth of a society, district, State and the country as a whole,� he said.
The function was also addressed by Dr Kotokey. A power point presentation was also made in order to enlighten the gathering about various products launched by the bank and especially Apps like �SBI
Buddy�, �No Que� etc. The DGM read out the foundation day message of the Chairman and Managing Director of the SBI for the audience.
The SBI staff also felicitated several senior citizens present in the meeting. The function was anchored by Chief Manager Padum Poona Baruah, (Credit & NPA), SBI, Regional Business Office. The vote of thanks was offered by Udayan Chakrabarty, the Regional Manager of SBI, RBO Dibrugarh.
