‘Bengal 2nd in India in deposit mobilisation’

Kolkata: Bengal has emerged as a leading state in financial inclusion, contributing nearly Rs 1,000 crore to the over Rs 10,000 crore total balance in financial inclusion accounts operated through BLS E-Services' business correspondent network across India, the company said. BLS E-Services, the country's largest business correspondent network, said the figure, as of Jan 31, 2026, reflects cumulative deposits mobilised over the past decade.BLS COO Lokenath Panda said Bengal ranks second after UP in deposit mobilisation.The BC network delivers banking services in unbanked areas on behalf of public and private sector banks, including deposit mobilisation. Around 80% of the total balance has come from Tier-4 and Tier-5 rural markets, underlining strong participation from smaller districts and rural households and signalling rising trust in formal banking services.Under RBI rules, deposits are held in partner banks' books, while BC operators provide last-mile services such as account opening, cash deposits, withdrawals and basic banking support. BLS works with SBI, PNB, Bank of Baroda, Indian Bank and HDFC Bank, among others. As of Dec 31, 2025, it had over 45,800 business correspondents nationwide.