As Chief Technology Officer of Asia Green Development Bank (AGD Bank) - a public commercial bank in Myanmar providing banking services and products - Bhuvanesh Shukla is transforming the business through a three-stage process.

The first phase of innovation was delivered through branch banking transformation, leveraging technology to enhance customer experience.

Such transformation came with challenges however, with the running of branch costs high, in addition to unreliable availability of power and connectivity in rural areas.

Therefore, Shukla and his team deployed Bank Genie from a Singapore-based start-up, which offers mobile device-based banking integrated into teller operations in branches.

Aimed at providing digital banking to Android and iOS devices, the cost-effective project is also secure and complaint with banking regulations.

The second focus adds is centred around enhancing mobile banking to a level in which 70 per cent efficiency can be achieved at rural levels, helping increase financial inclusion in Myanmar.

Leveraging fintech capabilities, AGD Bank is also launched a wallet-based payment product known as OnePay, built in-house and targeted to the “unbanked and banked” customers in the country.

The three projects align with the overriding objective of improving customer experience levels through business model disruption, ensuring users can access financial services outside of the core 9am until 3pm hours on Monday to Friday.

Further considerations were also around operational efficiency. Currently no bank in Myanmar is running branches with less than 20 people per branch.

But through the leadership of Shukla, AGD Bank intends to run large branches housing 15 people, with the manpower savings set to be re-invested in adding more branches and strengthening sales and marketing capabilities.