Bangalore: BankMuscat, Oman's largest bank, would soon float an Indian subsidiary, and it also has plans to come out with a debit card and set up a call centre in the country, senior bank officials said on May 7.

BankMuscat's chief executive (India) Samit Ghosh, said that with the recent Union Budget allowing foreign banks to incorporate locally, his bank is awaiting for detailed Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines in this regard.

According to him, RBI guidelines in this regard are expected in the next two months, after which the bank would apply to the apex bank for setting up an Indian subsidiary.

BankMuscat presently has a branch in Bangalore and the target is to double the number of customers in the next six months. The bank on May 7 opened two ATMs, taking their total number to six in the city.

The bank's vice president, head-retail banking, Shome Sengupta, said that the bank has plans to come out with a debit card in the middle of 2002, and looking at Visa for the tie-up, as well as set up a call centre.

A foray into the Internet banking is also on the anvil, he told reporters.

Meanwhile, five of the bank's ATMs would feature a series of photography exhibitions depicting various aspects of India by prominent lensmen.

First in the series are photographs on the wildlife of India that would be displayed over the next 3 months, after which there would be another one on a different topic. The exhibitions are being organised in association with India International Photographic Council-Bangalore Chapter.

PTI