Besides, the bank is also looking at London and pursue the opportunity once the economic environment improves, Sridhar said. While, in the Middle East Central Bank is considering Bahrain and Dubai, he added.

The bank has got Board approval for overseas foray and is "doing survey and has initiated informal discussion."

In due course, it would also seek Reserve Bank and government approval, Sridhar said. At present, the Mumbai-based bank does not have any presence overseas.

Outlining the bank's capital requirement, Sridhar said he expects to receive Rs 7 billion (US$152.17 million) from the government by the end of this fiscal.

"We got Rs 7 billion hybrid bonds in March 2009, we expect the same amount in the second half of this fiscal," he said.

From Tier II, the bank has already raised Rs 5.5 billion, he said, adding, the fund is good enough for meeting business growth during 2009-10.

(PTI)maz

The Central Bank of India MasterCard Gift Card offers gift-givers a gift option that recipients can redeem as they wish to make purchases anywhere MasterCard is accepted in India. The RAv MasterCard Virtual Card is a prepaid MasterCard number that gives shoppers a secure way to buy online, over the phone or by mail order wherever MasterCard is accepted without requiring a bank account or credit card.

Since both new products will be widely available to Indian consumers without bank accounts or credit cards, the partners expect them to lay the groundwork for widespread access to the financial mainstream by enhancing familiarity with prepaid cards. The virtual card is the first in the market available without a bank account or credit card, and it is the first MasterCard payment product in India available outside a bank branch.

Making plastic and other secure payment options available without a bank account and via conveniently located business correspondents will play an important role in expanding access to financial services in India where only 20 percent of adults have a payment card of any kind[1] - the rest rely almost exclusively on cash - and more than half of the population is unbanked.[2]

The partnership unites Central Bank of India - one of India's largest public sector banks with more than 3,500 branches throughout the country - with MasterCard's worldwide acceptance network and RAv's deep expertise in prepaid and knowledge of underserved markets.

RAv marks its entry to the Indian market through this partnership. The collaboration with Central Bank of India allows RAv - a prepaid leader in Asia Pacific and a member of the RAv Worldwide global network of payments companies for underserved markets - to showcase its payments technology and deep social mission in India.

"Everyone deserves access to trusted payment solutions. Our partnership with Central Bank of India enables us to provide a range of innovative products which will improve the lives of Indian consumers by offering greater convenience and wider participation in the mainstream financial system," said Simon Hilton, CEO, RAv Asia Pacific.

[1]Prepaid International Forum, July 2009 (http://www.prepaidforum.org/viewPDF.php?type=PublicPDF&PDFid=317)

[2] "Financial exclusion has to end," The Economic Times, Aman Dhall, 8/9/2009 (http://bit.ly/3xWUpV)

Note to Editors:

Video highlights and images from the event hosted by Central Bank of India in New Delhi earlier this week as well as product images and photos are available upon request.

About Central Bank of India

Established in 1911, Central Bank of India was the first Indian commercial bank which was wholly owned and managed by Indians. The establishment of the Bank was the ultimate realisation of the dream of Sir Sorabji Pochkhanawala, founder of the Bank. Sir Pherozesha Mehta was the first Chairman of a truly 'Swadeshi Bank'. In fact, such was the extent of pride felt by Sir Sorabji Pochkhanawala that he proclaimed Central Bank of India as the 'property of the nation and the country's asset'. He also added that 'Central Bank of India lives on people's faith and regards itself as the people's own bank'.

Among the Public Sector Banks, Central Bank of India can be truly described as an All India Bank, due to distribution of its large network in 27 out of 28 States as also in 4 out of 7 Union Territories in India. Central Bank of India holds a very prominent place among the Public Sector Banks on account of its network of 3542 branches and 218 extension counters at various centres throughout the length and breadth of the country. In view of its large network of branches as also number of savings and other innovative services offered, the total customer base of the Bank at over 25 million account holders is one of the largest in the banking industry.

About RAv India

RAv India is a subsidiary of RAv Asia Pacific, an innovative payment solutions company that designs, markets and distributes a range of prepaid card products designed to meet the needs of consumers underserved by traditional financial services. These products include reloadable cards for everyday use, mobile payments, cards for domestic and international remittance, gift cards and virtual cards for shopping online. RAv Asia Pacific forms part of RAv Worldwide (www.revworldwide.com), the first global network of payment companies created to innovate end-to-end payment solutions that allow underserved consumers around the world to participate in today's mainstream economy. RAv Worldwide partners with financial institutions, telecommunications companies, merchants and government entities to serve consumers through card payments and payment processing, reload networks, mobile payments, loyalty programs, money transfers and bill payment. The RAv Worldwide companies are members of the MPOWER Ventures investment portfolio.

CONTACT: Mr. R Thiagarajan,Central Bank of India Tel: +91 22 2282 4011 e-mail: agmcentralcard@centralbank.co.in WWW: http://www.centralbank.co.in Meredith DeSpain Kelsey, RAv Asia Pacific Tel: +1 512 531 1191 e-mail: pr@revworldwide.com WWW: http://www.revworldwide.com

((M2 Communications disclaims all liability for information provided within M2 PressWIRE. Data supplied by named party/parties. Further information on M2 PressWIRE can be obtained at http://www.presswire.net on the world wide web. Inquiries to info@m2.com.

The preceeding is a transcript of the MarketNewsVideo.com video published at: http://www.marketnewsvideo.com/?id=200910Gold100609&mv=1.

http://www.marketnewsvideo.com/