Mangaluru: The more than a century old Mangalore Catholic Co-operative Bank Ltd of MCC bank as it is popularly known, headquartered on the St Aloysius College road in Hampankatta, a bank founded by Catholic visionaries of Mangaluru with 16 branches across the undivided Dakshina Kannada District, and Rs: 307.79 Crores in deposits and Rs: 202.24 Crores in advances is headed for a crucial election to select its new board of Directors.
The new board will define the future of the bank in a tough economic scenario, as it seeks to support the growing entrepreneurship among the Catholic community.
On 26th August 2018, the 25,938 members / shareholders eligible to vote in the new board will head to the St. Aloysius College High School to elect a new governing body of consisting of 13 members under general category.
The current chairman Francis Cutinho is not contesting this election, though some of the current board members are.
This has left the field open to two groups of handpicked candidates each headed by experienced and dynamic leaders of the Catholic community in Mangalore. Anil Lobo Fermai-Valencia, currently a director on the board heads one group and Alwyn Patrao Kirem currently the vice chairman of the board the other. The term of office is 5 years.
The MCC Bank – a tale of evolution and revolution:
In the year 1904 Government of India passed the Cooperative Societies Act. In 1912, the same Act was amended and the Registrars of the Cooperative Societies were asked to spread the principles of cooperative financing. This brought Dewan Bahadhur Swamikunnu Pillai, the third registrar of Cooperative Societies of the Province of Madras to Mangalore. He addressed the Mangalorean Catholic gentlemen at then Catholic Union Club (presently Catholic Centre, Hampankatta.)
67 generous leaders of the Mangalorean Catholics came together to chart a plan for a catholic cooperative institution. On 8-5-1912 The Mangalorean Catholic Cooperative Society was established. On 9-5-1912 the first general body meeting of the new society was held. The members elected Hon’ble P F X Saldanha as its first President, Simon Alvares as Vice President and Shri J M Castelino as Secretary and Treasurer.
The Bank has seen 23 presidents since then, many serving more than one term. Together with their teams, they have served the community well and its time now for the next generation to step up to the plate.
The current scenario
Before demitting office the current chairman had the privilege, and some might say, pleasure to preside over the 100th general body meeting of the bank at which he announced a 10% dividend for the shareholders. In his presidential address, he said, “The bank has earned a net profit of Rs: 3.66 crore, with a total deposit of Rs: 307.79 crore, total reserves of Rs: 30.73 crore, advances of Rs: 202.24 crore, working capital of Rs: 360.42 crore and share capital of Rs: 14.21 crore.”
He told the media after the AGM that he is happy that the bank under his leadership has gone from strength to strength “the bank has succeeded in providing new facilities including NRE and NRO account facilities and competitive rates of interest to the customers of our bank”.
Certainly, bank facilities have been upgraded for the convenience of the bank’s customers over the last few years – an upgraded core banking version has been commissioned, while anywhere banking, E-stamping and Rupay cards for easy banking transactions have been introduced too.
Quoting figures to back up his argument that the bank is prosperous he said that the bank generated a 143.92% increase in profits at Rs 1589.98 Lakhs during the tenure of the current board with a net profit of Rs 651.86 lakhs, an effort he is proud of. Share capital too increased by Rs 304.51 lakhs during 2008-13 with an increase of 144.72% during the previous five year period.
Cutinho claimed that there was now “equilibrium in deposits and loans and more profit.” However it was not all figures. The bank was honoured with the best cooperative society award at the district level and best cooperative bank among town cooperative banks in Mysuru division for optimum use of working capital.
However no new branches were opened during the term as the NPA’s had touched 8.24%. The bank plans to open more branches when the NPA slides and efforts are on in that direction, the Chairman said. He expects the new board to introduce new initiatives with continuity for the prosperity of the bank.
The new boards and their plans
Newskarnataka spoke to the competing group leaders to understand the challenges the bank was facing and how they planned to overcome them and take the bank to greater heights during the next five years
Anil Lobo Fermai – Valencia: A energetic grass root level youth leader who has served the ICYM from the unit level to being its Diocesan Central Council President, was also the Secretary of Rachana – Catholic Professionals and Entrepreneurs Forum and the President of Catholic Sabha (R) Mangalore Pradesh and also the current Vice President of Parish Pastoral Parishad of Valencia Church. He also does a lot of social service to uplift the community.
A successful entrepreneur with good networking skills and that have helped him build strong links with fellow entrepreneurs and a one term director of the MCC bank, Anil has a good knowledge of banking operations, its plusses and minuses. He has a vision for the growth of the bank to take it to the next level and has teamed up with experts in different fields which include lawyers, accounts, administration, education and human resource development. 5 of the candidates in Team Anil Lobo are currently directors of the bank, 8 are commerce graduates, 2 are former bank managers.
His team has Dolphy Joseph Patrao – Milagres, Joseph Anil Patrao – Derebail, Marcel Mathew D’Souza (Maccha Milar) – Rosario, Elroy Kiran Crasto – Gangolli, Andrew D’Souza – Paladka, J P Rodrigues – Puttur, Jerald Jude D’Silva – Miyar, David D’Souza – Bajpe, Herald John Monteiro – Kelarai, Roshan D’Souza – Mudipu, Dr Freeda Flavia D’Souza – Balkunje, Irene Rebello (Kateel) – Kulshekar as its member contestants.
Team Anil Lobo has drawn up an impressive plan to uplift the bank to make it the best in the region and some of their main plans include:
– Setting up a regional office at Udupi to give better, faster and more personalized service to customers.
– Strengthening the Loan Recovery team in order to recover the outstanding loans and reduce the banks NPA’s.
– Staff training to improve the customer-staff relationship.
– Organising regular consumer meetsto foster a healthy relationship between the bank and its customers.
– Using technology to increase ease of banking.
– Reviewing staff compensation and benefits to improve productivity and customer service.
– Keeping an optimum balance between Deposit and Advances and maintaining the CD ratio.
– Obtaining permission and starting new branches in accordance with RBI Guidelines.
– Attracting youth to the bank – Helping them build their futures with the bank.
– Using a part of the bank’s profits for CSR activities which include entrepreneurship and competitive exam training.
Alwyn Patrao Kirem: A current Vice Chairman of the bank and the past Governor of the Lions Club International District 324D5, is a successful businessman and a youth leader. He has served in different capacities in the ICYM and was its Diocesan President. He was also the Vice President of Parish Pastoral Parishad of Kirem Church and a social worker.
With years of experience in the business he owns and being the current Director and Vice Chairman of the bank Alwyn Patrao is in full knowledge of the banks health and wealth and also has remedies for it and is all set with his team of candidates – a blend of both young and the experienced. His team has educationists, engineers, certified financial consultants, businessmen and banking experts.
Team Alwyn Patrao has Lion Dr. Neri Cornelio – Milagres Udupi, Dr. John Clerence Miranda Kirem – Kinnigoli, Lancy D’Cunha – Bondel, Peter Antony Pinto – Urwa, Joseph Michael Pereira (Joe Pereira) – Shirthady, Santhosh D’Souza – Bajpe, Manoj Xavier Dais – Puttur, Jackson Eric D’Costa – Vamadapadavu, Elroy Patric Saldanha – Omzoor, Mauric Monteiro – Permannur, Dr. Laveena D’Mello nee Noronha – Kulshekar and Constance Carmelita Saldanha (Cony Teacher) – Bejai as its member candidates.
Alwyn Patrao aims at developing the MCC bank to bring it on par with the other banks of the region which have already excelled. He and his team have drawn up an elaborate plan. Some highlights are:
– Increasing the Share Capital, Reserves, Deposits, Loans, ATM’s, branches and membership and reducing the NPA’s are its key concerns.
– Providing a cash and cheque collection facility for premier institutions and customers. Giving customer centric service in all branches.
– Appointing a Relationship Officer for the development of the bank.
– Providing an easy loan facility and new deposit schemes to attract customers aided by loan counselling centres at all branches.
– Providing ATM kiosks at all branches with passbook printing machines, cheque and cash deposit machines.
– Forming ‘MCC 10’ and advisory board at the Head office for better administration. MCC 10 is a team of experts with Chairman, Vice Chairman, General Manager, DGM’s, legal advisors.
– Creating an advisory committee of ex-bankers, CA’s, businessmen and customers at every branch for better grievance redressal and customer satisfaction.
– Reducing the banks NPA’s by strengthening the loan recovery team and increasing the banks profit which can result in branch expansion.
– Staff Training and compensation reviews through a committee. Plans are also afoot to establish a MCC Recreation Club and Cultural Association to unite and encourage the staff.
– Using the reserve fund for community development and a group housing project.
The Mangalore Catholic Cooperative Bank has, over the years, played a major role in the economic prosperity of the Canara Catholic community for whom agriculture was the key occupation. Times have changed. Technology has taken over the banking system, and agriculture is no longer the main stay of the community. Catholic youth are now encouraged by Government schemes, parental support and the chance to create employment rather than be employed to venture into entrepreneurship and the bank must evolve to support them. It’sup to the next board of directors to evaluate these needs and implement initiatives that will match those needs.
If the aggressive campaigning done by both the teams and the enthusiasm shown by the candidates is converted into action and consistent ground work post elections, by whichever team wins, there can be no doubt that the MCC bank will see a golden era in the days to come.
