The Long-Term Cooperative Credit Structure is a two-tiered one with The West Bengal State Cooperative Agriculture & Rural Development Bank Ltd (WBSCARDB) at the apex and 24 Primary Cooperative Agriculture & Rural Development Banks (PCARDBs) at the district/sub-divisional level.
PCARDBs, whose members are individual farmers and Self-help Groups (SHGs), are affiliated to WBSCARDB Ltd.
Financial assistance in the shape of loans is extended by WBSCARDB to the Primary CARDBs for the following purposes:
Long-term credit for agricultural/ agri-allied/ non-farm and housing purposes;
Financing self Help Groups.
NABARD provides refinance for these loans which are backed by State Government Guarantee. The twin objectives are to develop infrastructure and promote capital formation for generation of sustainable income of the members. The target groups are small and marginal farmers and SHGs.