BANGALORE, INDIA: IBM today announced that it has signed a five-year IT outsourcing agreement with Madhav Nagrik Sahakari Bank, one of the leading co-operative banks in the state of Rajasthan.

As part of the agreement, IBM will host and manage the IT infrastructure for the bank helping the bank to focus on its aggressive expansion plans while reducing its huge capital expenditure.

Signed in 3Q 2008, this agreement is the first of its kind for IBM in Rajasthan, said a press release. IBM is focused on the small and medium businesses including those based in small towns like Sirohi, where the bank is headquartered.

Madhav Nagrik Sahakari Bank plans to increase its presence from the existing network of 25 branches in Rajasthan.

The bank is also dedicated to offering services like Internet banking, mobile banking and ATM facilities to its customers, who are pre-dominantly from semi-urban and rural areas.

The end-to-end managed services being provided by IBM will enable the bank to achieve its growth plans while garnering a greater level of trust and satisfaction from its loyal customer base, the release added.

“In this age of technology-driven banking, even co-operative bank like ours are taking a leap in providing the best of banking experience to our customers,” said Mukesh Modi, managing director, Madhav Nagrik Sahakari Bank.

“Our association with IBM, the world’s leading IT services company, would not only help us focus more on our aggressive growth plans but at the same time ensure a higher degree of customer satisfaction.”

Nipun Mehrotra, vice president and general manager, Global Technology Services, IBM India/South Asia remarked: “Our engagement with Madhav Nagrik Sahakari Bank reiterates IBM’s commitment to helping organizations who are looking to grow their business.

“By offering our IT services to the bank, we will not only help them cut their IT expenditure but also ensure they are able to focus on their core business and expansion plans. We will continue to expand our geographical reach and work with more clients like Madhav Bank.”

With IBM hosting the bank’s entire IT infrastructure from its own data centers, the bank will be able to leverage the same world-class expertise that serves many of its larger enterprise as well as global clients, the release added.