UNION Bank of India(UBI) expects to get its asset management business operational at the earliest. "We are in the process of setting up both the asset management company (AMC) and the trustee company and they should be operational soon. Mutual funds will help us augmenting our portfolio of financial products," said Mr SC Kalia, executive director of the bank.
UBI has inked an agreement with KBC Asset Management, part of the Belgium-based KBC Group to commence mutual fund operations in India. The Indian mutual fund industry has witnessed rapid growth during the last few years on the back of rising investor interest.
Mr Kalia said that UBI expected to end the current fiscal with total business (deposits and advances) of about Rs 2.85-2.9 lakh crore while it was on track to reach Rs 2.6 lakh crore by the end of the ongoing third quarter. The bank is looking to expand its 2,600 plus bank branches by adding another 500 branches before September 2010.