"We would not like to lay emphasis on balance sheet growth alone but focus more on advisory services (fee based) in order to boost our bottomline," Times Bank managing director, NB Javeri told reporters at the road show of the bank's maiden public issue.

He said balance sheet growth (assets vs liabilities) was not desired by the bank as the growth risk (non-performing assets) also tend to increase along with it.

Among the advisory services which the bank plans to emphasise include corporate banking, cash management services, and treasury managment.

He said in addition to it, the bank plans to offer internet banking by the end of 1999 and is already talking to various software firms for providing security checks.

"We would like to provide best services to our customers at their door steps and technology(internet) will play a major role in providing our customers needs," he said.

He added that the bank will also launch its debit card in a joint venture with Mastercard next month.

Javeri said, in addition the bank would launch its millenium centres next month. The millenium centres will not be the branches of the bank, but will have automated teller machines (ATM) with all facilities like cash withdrawl, cheque deposits, issue of drafts and account statments.

Initially the centres will be set-up in Mumbai followed by New Delhi and Chandigarh.

He said by setting up these centres the bank will be able to reduce its operational costs and also plans to centralise its operations as part of its cost reduction measures.

"We already have a fully automated banking network across the country and by centralising, our operations cost will be drastically reduced," he added.

The bank chief said it needs to offer complete financial solutions to their customers rather than being just transactionprocessors.

The bank offers consumer finance, depository services and sale of mutual funds through its branches. It is also active in the foreign exchange and money markets.