Dhangadhi, May 24

Banking and Financial institutions have yet to expand to most of the local levels of Province 7. Of the 88 local levels in the province, only 34 have access to banking services.

People from local levels lacking access to banking services are compelled to go to district headquarters for various financial transactions. According to Dhangadhi branch of Nepal Rastriya Bank, there are 300 branches of different banks in the nine districts of the province. However, as many as 202 branches are in Kailali and Kanchanpur.

NRB Dhangadhi branch Deputy Director Dirga Rawal said branches of banks could not be opened due to less number of service seekers and various infrastructure and security related issues.

Administrative Officer Hemraj Joshi of Chure Rural Municipality, Kailali, said one dedicated staffer had to be appointed to perform bank-related works in the rural municipality. “The staffer has to walk for two days to reach the district headquarters as there is no transportation facility to carry out any financial transactions of the rural municipality,” he added.

Padam Bahadur BK, a local of Aalital Rural Municipality, Dadeldhura, said locals were facing problems commuting to the district headquarters to access banking services.