UCBs are, to some extent, already into financial inclusion as their client profile mainly consists of priority sector segments viz. small business establishments, SSI, retail traders, self-employed etc., who do not get easy access to commercial banks.
There still remains, however, a huge hidden potential to be tapped, given the large number of small urban co-operative banks.10 UCBs need to capitalise on their advantage and reap the business opportunity. In semi-urban and rural areas, there are a number of unbanked and underbanked districts inhabited by people like artisans, migrant labour, small businessmen and retailers, etc.