Talk of loans, interest rates and insurance was replaced by strains of flute, madol, dhol and tabla as folk music took over the banking counters of the Gariahat Road all-woman Standard Chartered branch that celebrated its first birthday recently. Branch regulars were happy to participate in a transaction of a different kind.

The audience comprised mostly women, even though the men had been invited for the birthday bash. Mothers with daughters in tow and even grandmoms came by for the celebrations.

On the evening’s menu was a performance by the all-woman band Maadal. Sikha, Rita, Sonia, Tupsi and Kamalkoli strung together a medley of folk hits like Shohag chand badani, Nachite nachite and Naye nairal. “We have performed at other bank functions, but this was our first time at an all-woman branch,” said Sikha.

The branch has been hosting a number of other activities over the year, including workshops on pain management, eye, hair and skincare. “These were just for the ladies,” explained branch manager Julie Sharma.

There have been “financial events” too. “The idea is to educate and raise awareness levels,” said Shazi Anwar, regional head, branch banking (east), consumer banking.

Inspired by the success of this novel format, Standard Chartered is coming up with a second all-woman branch in Delhi.