Section 18. Business which a Regional Rural Bank may transact.

(1) Every Regional Rural Bank shall carry on and transact the business of banking as defined in clause (b) of section 5 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (10 of 1949), and may engage in one or more forms of business specified in sub-section (1) of section 6 of that Act. (2) Without prejudice to the generality of the provisions of sub-section (1), every Regional Rural Bank may, in particular, undertake the following types of business, namely:-- (a) the granting of loans and advances, particularly to small and marginal farmers and agricultural labourers, whether individually or in groups, and to co-operative societies, including agricultural marketing societies, agricultural processing societies, co-operative farming societies, primary agricultural credit societies or farmers service societies, for agricultural purposes or agricultural operations or for other purposes connected therewith; (b) the granting of loans and advances, particularly to artisans, small entrepreneurs and persons of small means engaged in trade, commerce or industry or other productive activities, within the notified area in relation to the Regional Rural Bank.