Andhra Pradesh Grameena Bank Chairman K. Pramod Kumar Reddy in Guntur. | Photo credit: T VIJAY KUMAR
The recently merged Guntur-based Andhra Pradesh Grameena Bank (APGB), which became the second largest after State Bank of India (SBI) in terms of number of branches in the state by retaining the entire network of 1,351 branches from all the four erstwhile banks, aimed to become the first in the state by increasing the number to over 1,700 in the next five years.
Four Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) including Andhra Pragathi Grameena Bank (APGB), Andhra Pradesh Grameena Vikas Bank (APGVB), Saptagiri Grameena Bank (SGB) and Chaitanya Godavari Grameena Bank (CGGB) were merged into a single new entity – Andhra Pradesh Bank with effect from May 21 – issued by Grameena Bank – on 21 May. Government of India.
APGB had a business of around ₹ 1.28 lakh crore and intends to grow it to over ₹ 2 lakh crore in the next five years, said the bank’s chairman K. Pramod Kumar Reddy.
Mr. Pramod Kumar told The Hindu at his office in Guntur that the debt to credit ratio of APGB is very impressive and competitive compared to any other bank in the state. Clarifying that APGB debt and credit are almost the same and therefore could soon perform much better in lending to farmers, small and medium enterprises, self-help groups and others.
Stating that APGB gives top priority to priority sectors and schemes of central and state governments, he said loans will be disbursed to people who opt for schemes and programs of governments in industrial and agricultural sectors.
The chairman said the bank would ensure that every individual had a bank account in the state, adding that it had a customer base of over 1.2 million.
He said the bank will provide loans to individuals, farmers, women SHGS, MSMES. He also added that the bank also provides housing loans to farmers in rural and semi-urban areas where other commercial banks will not offer the service based on agricultural land and income.
In an effort to achieve Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu’s target of making at least one million entrepreneurs in the state within a year, Mr. Pramod Kumar said that APGB will provide MSME loans either to individuals or to all members of SHGs. He said the state government has proposed a program for One Family One Entrepreneur (OFOE), the bank will participate in it and all other subsidy programs.
Published – 06 Nov 2025 16:30 IST
