Sri Vijaya Puram, September 25: Nand Kishore Singh, Vice-Chairman of the Andaman & Nicobar State Cooperative Bank Ltd., attended the 63rd Annual General Body Meeting of the National Federation of State Cooperative Banks Ltd. (NAFSCOB) held in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, on September 25, where he raised issues concerning the functioning and strengthening of the cooperative bank in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The annual general body meeting brought together representatives of State Cooperative Banks from across the country to discuss issues concerning the cooperative banking sector, including institutional strengthening, financial management, loan recovery and challenges faced by cooperative banks in different regions.
Representing the Andaman & Nicobar State Cooperative Bank, Singh raised issues specific to the Union Territory before the national-level cooperative banking body and sought solutions aimed at improving the bank’s functioning and services.
His participation comes at a time when the State Cooperative Bank has been undertaking measures to strengthen its financial position and improve loan recovery. The bank has been dealing with non-performing assets (NPAs), with recovery efforts receiving increased attention from its management and the Andaman and Nicobar Administration.
In October 2025, an administrative review of the bank’s loan recovery efforts recorded recovery of ₹27.16 crore from NPA accounts since April that year. The administration had emphasised sustained recovery efforts, systematic follow-up with borrowers and stronger monitoring mechanisms to prevent further accumulation of NPAs.
The issues raised at the NAFSCOB meeting are significant as the bank continues efforts to strengthen its financial and operational systems. Discussions at a national cooperative banking platform provide an opportunity for the island-based institution to seek solutions and guidance relevant to the specific challenges of operating in a geographically dispersed Union Territory.
The State Cooperative Bank, established in 1966, has a long-standing role in providing banking and credit services to residents and businesses in the islands. Its operations also have to account for the logistical and geographical challenges associated with serving communities spread across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The bank had earlier faced public concern following an investigation into alleged irregularities involving loans. Its management subsequently maintained that the bank remained operational and that depositors’ interests were protected. The bank has also focused on recovering outstanding loans and strengthening its systems.
Against this backdrop, Singh’s participation in the 63rd NAFSCOB Annual General Body Meeting provided a platform to raise the island bank’s concerns at the national level and seek measures that could contribute to its further strengthening.
The meeting also underlined the importance of cooperation among State Cooperative Banks and their national federation in addressing common institutional and financial challenges. For the Andaman and Nicobar State Cooperative Bank, such engagement could help bring greater attention to the specific requirements of cooperative banking in the islands.
The issues raised by the Vice-Chairman are expected to form part of the broader efforts to improve the bank’s functioning, strengthen financial management and ensure continued banking services for people across the Union Territory.
