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HNB has actively engaged itself in rural credit almost from its inception. In 1973, the bank in collaboration with a consortium of private sector companies under the name of “Agrohope”, engaged itself in rural credit and village adoption programmes by financing allottees under the Debara-ara-wewa Scheme in the Monaragala district. The allottees were financed by the bank through Bandarawela Branch.
During the period 1975 to 1978, bank participated in a loan scheme with Ceylon Tobacco Co. Ltd to assist small farmers for growing tobacco in Anuradhapura district. The mobile bank service which operated in the region for disbursement and recovery of loans, thereby taking banking to farmers’ doorstep, was a significant feature of the scheme. HNB is the first Commercial Bank to recruit agricultural professionals to its main cadre, for development of agricultural credit.
In 1977 Hatton National Bank Ltd commenced participation in the Comprehensive Rural Credit Scheme (CRCS) of the Central Bank in which a package of financial assistance to the agricultural sector was afforded.
With the Govt. accelerated Mahaweli Dev. Scheme, HNB was invited in 1979 to participate in the pilot project in the H5 Area of the “H” system of the scheme. The scheme covers an area of 12,500 acres of irrigated land allocated to 5,000 farmer settlers. In the Central Uva Provinces, the bank channels a significant portion of its lending activity through Nuwara Eliya, Bandarawela, Welimada branches for the financing of potato cultivation.
The bank was recognized by donor agencies such as World Bank & ADB since 1979 by accepting it as a participating credit institution for refinance schemes. Thereafter, the Bank participated in a large number of rural credit lines, for which refinance facilities were provided by donor agencies such as World Bank, ADB & IFAD, JBIC etc. Today, the bank is involved in more than 10 rural sector refinance & non-refinance credit lines and provides a comprehensive package of financial services to develop the rural economy. Our branch network, especially in the outstations, has disbursed over Rs 20 Bn in Agri / Rural Sector loans, of which the current outstanding is only Rs 3.0 Bn. The bank has recruited 120 Field Officers including 35 Agri Officers / Executives at present to assist in ongoing rural credit programmes.
HNB was the first ever Commercial Bank to organize a farmer study tour in 1989, sponsored by the Agriculture Bank of China. 8 Farmers and 2 Officials from the Bank participated in this tour. In 2004, the bank was able to arrange and finance a second farmer study tour to India, comprising 13 Farmers and 4 Bank Officials.
To continue this effort, HNB has organized its third farmer study tour to India from
12th November to 20th November 2007. 12 Farmers and 6 Bank Officials will participate in this tour. The participants will have the opportunity to gain knowledge of some of the best and successful agriculture practices in several regions of India. (Trichy, Thanjavur, Veppankulam, Nilakatai, Kadai Kanal)
This tour was aimed at covering various agricultural technologies and agri business sectors such as soil and water management, integrated farming, organic farming, tissue culture, post-harvest handling & processing, commercial floriculture, banana fibre processing and diary farming etc. The vision behind this tour was to make a significant contribution towards developing
Sri Lanka’s Rural Agricultural economy, as there is greater focus in the country to develop the agri-based economy.
Picture depicts the Farmers selected for the tour with the Bank officials | 
