The Lead Bank Scheme was introduced in 1969 to provide lead roles to individual banks (both in public sector and private sector) for
the districts allotted to them.
The Lead Bank Scheme was introduced by RBI on the basis of the recommendations of both the Gadgil Study Group and Banker’s
Committee (Nariman Committee). The studies by the committees found that the rural areas were not able to enjoy the benefits of
banking. Commercial banks did not have adequate presence in rural areas and also lacked the required rural orientation.
So a bank (public or private) was given some area in which that bank had to play a lead role in providing financial services to the
people, making them aware about the banks and various benefits of banks and also generating trust among people so that they deposit
their money without any fear of loss or fraud.
So in this way, all the districts in the country have been allotted to various banks.
The lead bank also acts as a leader for coordination activities and services of all financial institutions in that area.
For this a Lead Bank Officer (LBO) now designated as Lead District Manager is also appointed.
Role of Lead District Manager:
- Collection of various data from Scheduled Commercial Banks, Regional Rural Banks, Co-operative Banks, other banks and various government agencies.
- Monitoring the implementation of Annual Credit plan and various Government Sponsored Schemes in the district.
- Along with implementation of Annual Credit plan, he should also provide requisite infrastructure to achieve the plan effectively.
- He should also play a leading role in poverty alleviation programmes launched by the State/Central Government
- Preparation of Annual Credit Plan for the district.
In all the states, State Level Bankers’ Committees (SLBC) are formed in order to coordinate and implement programmes and policies
by all the financial institutions operating in the State. The meetings of SLBC are held quarterly in which there is interaction among the
various banks in the State on the one hand and between the banks and the State Government authorities on the other.