Tripura Gramin Bank (TGB) has recorded a net profit of Rs 3,535 lakh, the highest among the RRBs in eastern and northeastern India, during the last fiscal ended March 2010.

TGB chairman Nilmani Gangopadhyay said, "The bank with 111 branches across the state has achieved a profit of Rs. 2,071 lakh in the previous FY (2008-09) and Rs. 3,535 lakh in 2009-10."

Mr. Gangopadhyay said that the bank also achieved a record in per branch business and per staff business with Rs 2,567 lakh and Rs 438 lakh respectively during the last fiscal.

"The TGB has targeted to achieve a net profit of Rs. 500 lakh in the current financial year," Gangopadhyay said, adding that by September next year all the 111 branches will have core banking services (CBS).

Presently, TGB's credit-deposit ratio stood at 39%, while for other nationalized commercial banking institutions, it is 32%.

The bank issued 1,500 biometric cards to pay out wages under National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) and pension under National Old Age Pension (NOAP) schemes.

"Process is on to bring all the NREGA and NOAP beneficiaries under biometric cards system to make their payment at the door step," he said.

Tripura become the second state after Andhra Pradesh to make use of biometric cards for payments under the NREGA and NOAP.

There are 84 RRBs in India affiliated to the central bank.

According to Gangopadhyay, 52 of these are profitable, 26 are in current profit and six are loss-making. (With Inputs from Agencies)