LAHORE: The Bank of Punjab (BoP) and the Zarai Taragiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) have entered into an agreement to help the beneficiaries of home remittances and improve financial inclusion in the country.

The agreement will enable both institutions to share their vast branch network, technology and expertise A ceremony to mark the occasion was held at BoP head office which was attendedbyBoPPresidentNaeemuddinKhan and ZTBL President Syed Talat Mahmood on Friday.

The BoP with its 400+ branches will now also utilise 400+ branches of the ZTBL to disburse home remittances.

Mr Khan said the ZTBL had a unique and diverse branch network and home remittance disbursement agreement with an organisation having established footprint in the agriculture sector would prove to be a breakthrough event in offering better services to the beneficiaries of home remittances.

Mr Mahmood said in the last two years, the ZTBL had opened 59 newbranches in the rural area to provide financial assistance to the farmers at their doorsteps and the bank was handling the banking needs of over a million customers.

`The bank now has a network of over 438 branches and 38 zonal offices spanned across the country, particularly in rural areas,` he said.

`The bank has well established and time tested relation with numerous exchange companies. During the year 2015, the banl< handled over 1 million home remittance transactions having value of over Rs45 billion.