Since its beginning in 1993, GB computerization programme has come a long way. At the end of 1999, 239 branches had been compurterized. To increase the operational efficiency of any financial institution it is imparative to minimise paper work at all levels particularly at branch level. Given the limitation of power supply it is still not possible to derive maximum benefit from the computerization specially in the rural areas. To overcome the limitations of power supply and minimize the opeational cost, GB reviewed its branch computerization programme at the end of 1999 and restructured the computerized management system.

During the year 2000, we set up 68 Information Management Centres at the area level utilizing the existing 239 compute.rs which were installed in the branches. At the Information Management Centres, three branches are serviced by one comput- er. All branches within an area receive services from the centre. Each centre provides all types of loan monitoring and accounting services on a regular basis. Therefore, it has been possible to both reduce costs and the increase efficiency of the computerization programme.

When the Information Management Centres attain its full capacity to serve 3 branches with one computer, it would be possi- ble to serve more than 600 branches without any additional investment in machinery or increase in the number of personnel.

Information regarding the progress of the computerization programme through the area level Information Management Centres are furnished below:

Sl.No.	Zone	No. of Centres	No. of Computers	No. of Branches
1	Chittagong	4	13	40
2	Tangail	8	17	41
3	Rangpur	5	15	38
4	Dhaka	2	21	57
5	Patuakhali	4	4	9
6	Bogra	5	9	20
7	Sylhet	5	13	32
8	Rajshahi	4	7	21
9	Dinajpur	5	8	25
10	Faridpur	4	9	16
11	Comilla	5	15	29
12	Mymensingh	2	3	7
13	Narayanganj	7	11	32
14	Khulna	4	11	32
15	Noakhali	1	2	5
	Total:	68	158	404

During the year, 10 out of 15 zonal offices were brought under Internet network. As a result data transfer has become both easy and less expensive. Grameen Communications, a sister company of Grameen Bank provides necessary technical assis- tance for supporting the computerization programme of Grameen Bank.