There is a popular saying that money makes the world go round. But the biggest challenge before the banks today across the globe is not the money per se, but the direction to which they need to be steered. Certainly, in a globalised world where banking parameters are being redefined every quarter, there are few individuals like K N Prithviraj, Chairman and Managing director, Oriental Bank of Commerce who has steered his bank towards a more secure and high growth trajectory.

A man, who carries with him decades of banking experience, Prithviraj, over the years, has been responsible for launching several of his visionary ideas in various banks that he had worked. Known for his knowledge of domestic and international banking, Prithviraj has worked on various capacities, thereby garnering the wisdom and knowledge of all the areas of banking. Prior to his appointment at the Oriental Bank of Commerce, which he would be serving till March 2007, Prithviraj was the Executive Director of United Bank of India, where he was instrumental in augmenting the productivity and profitability of the bank.

A man, who thinks that modern banking should integrate itself with the latest technology to provide the best to its customers, Prithviraj and his like-minded predecessors were instrumental in launching a massive drive of computerising its branches. No wonder, the Oriental Bank of Commerce today has more than 404 branches, which are computerised, and has to its credit a network of more than 488 ATMs.

Not limiting itself to the existing facilities, the Bank under the leadership of Prithviraj plans to computerise more than 499 branches in near future. Making manpower a vehicle of growth, Prithviraj is also credited with making every individual committed to his or her work. A leader of men and a great motivator, it's no surprise that the Bank under Prithviraj has been able to register a total business of more than Rs 56286 crore, a growth of 21.5% from the previous year. The operating profit went up by 31.8 per cent, which was about Rs 1533 crore and the net profit Rs 686 crore. No doubt, with a person like Prithviraj steering the destiny of the bank, there is surety of a secure future.