Soon, register for UID at a bank near you

In order to make the enrolment process easy, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has roped in nationalised banks as registrars. These banks will be able to do enroll customers and staff members in their own premises.

In order to make the enrolment process easy, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has roped in nationalised banks as registrars. These banks will be able to do enroll customers and staff members in their own premises.

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Some of these banks include Bank of India, Bank of Maharashtra, State Bank of India and Indian Overseas Bank.

“Allowing these banks to enroll their customers will reduce the burden on UID centres run by the state government considerably,” said Gurudutta Ray, assistant director general, UIDAI regional office, Mumbai.

Bank of India authorities confirmed that the bank has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the UIDAI.

“We have begun enrolment at our headquarters in the city. We are shifting the enrolment stations from one branch to the other, depending on the citizens’ response. By first week of July, 20 branches are expected to run the service. By mid-July, half of our branches will have the facility,” said Arjun P Ghugal, general manager, financial inclusion, Bank of India.
Bank of India has over 150 branches in and around Mumbai with a customer base of around 30 lakh.

“Currently, we have five enrolment stations that we shift from one branch to the other as per the public’s response. However, we will soon add more vendors, which will increase the machinery and manpower,” said a senior official from the financial inclusion department of Bank of India.

On the other hand, State Bank of India, which enjoys the largest customer base in the country, is awaiting approval from the UIDAI to provide the facility to customers in rural areas. “We are not focusing on cities as government centres are available there. We will focus on enrolment in rural areas, where the state is unable to provide the service. However, if UIDAI tell us to, we will provide facilities for the enrolment of our city customers,” said SBI senior official requesting anonymity.

Similarly, Indian Overseas Bank will begin UID enrolments across the country within a couple of months. “We have commenced a pilot run at Chennai and have enrolled 50,000 people so far,” said MS Raghavan, general manager, IT and chief information officer of the bank.