Reserve Bank
of India collects data/information from various bank
offices in respect of a number of banking parameters
through periodical returns/ statements. For processing
these data in the computer system, it is necessary to
keep an identity of the source of data. This is done
by allotting unique code numbers (named as Uniform Code
Number) to all the bank offices. Evolving a code numbering
system that could be uniformly used in all returns,
for submission by bank branches/offices to RBI, was
considered in late sixties by Reserve Bank of India
and put in place initially for commercial banks in 1972.
Similarly, allotment of Uniform Code Number to all the
co-operative credit institutions and state financial
corporations, which participated in the Lead Bank Scheme,
was attempted in 1982.
The Uniform
codes along with other particulars of each and every
branch/office of banks are maintained in the computer
system in the Department of Statistical Analysis and
Computer Services in the form of Master Office File
(MOF). Detailed information on branches/offices of banks
are regularly collected in the prescribed proformae
viz., Proforma-I and Proforma-II (specimen of Proforame-I
and II are provided at the end of this Section). Details
of new branches/offices opened in banked/unbanked centres
such as date of opening of branch/office, name and address
of branch/office, other location details, population
of centre, nature of business activity pursued and a
host of auxiliary information such as AD category, currency
chest detail, status of computerisation, etc., are reported
through Proforma-I.
The information
on relocation/ closure/ merger/ conversion of a bank
branch/office, change of branch name/AD category/nature
of business activity/change of any auxiliary information
are collected through Proforma II. These particulars
of branches/offices along with Part-I and Part-II of
Uniform Code Number of 7 digits each, assigned by DESACS,
are maintained in the MOF. As opening of new bank branches,
closure/relocation, etc., of existing branches, formation/reorganisation
of new/existing districts, etc., are on-going processes
and updation of MOF is also accordingly carried out.
MOF updation also relies on decennial population census
data and government gazette notification on merger/
reorganisation of centres, districts, etc.
Comprehensive
and updated list of branches of banks available from
MOF constitutes the frame of various Basic Statistical
Return (BSR) surveys, other bank related surveys and
various foreign exchange related returns received in
DESACS. MOF based summarised data are regularly published
in Branch Banking Statistics (latest: third Volume as
on 31st March 2002, released in March 2003), Statistical
Tables Relating to Banks in India, Handbook of Statistics
on Indian Economy, Report on Trend and Progress of Banking
in India, etc. MOF is the only official and reliable
source of branch banking information.