By Jacob Achoi
KUCHING, July 12: Mobile banking services being offered by Agro Bank are now available at Padawan sub-district office at Bayur located along Borneo Heights for a week as an initiative to help rural folks during the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to Agro Bank regional director Abdul Halek Abdullah, the services offered are Automated Teller Machine (ATM) and account opening up with the bank with a minimum of RM50 starting from today.
Apart from that, those interested to buy Takaful insurance can also drop by.
“With the services we are offering, we believe we can help the people in the area to withdrawn cash and to open their saving account, particularly during this Covid-19 pandemic,” he told reporters today.
Thanking the State government for the initiative to help the people in rural areas during this Covid-19 pandemic, he pointed out that the mobile banking is a joint effort with the bank.
“For this programme (Agro Bank mobile banking), we are provided with two trucks from the State government, but at the moment, we only have one truck because the other one is still stuck in Kuala Lumpur because of the Movement Control Order (MCO),” he added.
He also revealed that the State government has allocated RM45 million to the bank for the micro credit under the Bantuan Sayangku Sarawak (BKSS).
“For the micro credit programme, we are given a total of RM45 million in two batches,” he said, adding that RM25 million was given last year and another RM20 million this year.
He stressed that the programme was well received and those who wish to apply can do so through online application or visit any of the 16 branches across Sarawak.
Meanwhile, a Bidayuh community leader for Kuching district, Pemanca Raymond Jihap lauded the move as it provides convenience to the people in the area.
“It is a good move by the State government and the bank to provide the mobile banking facility to the people in rural areas, and I do hope that such a facility be made available permanently in the area (Padawan sub-district office,” he said.
Also present were Sarawak Administrative Officer (SAO) from Padawan sub-district office Julius Scott Sapong and Penghulu Rijen Meon. — DayakDaily
