It was 8 in the morning, a message popped in my mobile phone. It was a message from my Zonal Head stating last day’s achievement and today’s target. Being a Branch Manager, I generally reach my branch 30- 45 minutes before the commencement of Banking Hours. By the time customers start visiting the branch, I go through the instructions received from our Zonal Head, review the previous day’s report, make strategies and prepare list of tasks to be assigned to the staff members.
It is 10:15 am and the staff members now have arrived. A crowd of customers could be seen waiting outside for the branch to open. Within five minutes I quickly guided the staff members about the task assigned. With the hands of the clock signaling 10:30, a flood of customers entered the branch. These Customers have pay- in-slips, passbook and various other forms in their hands. Few of them even entered with a complaint letter. Normally I try to keep the first 30-45 minutes of Banking Hours reserved for customer interactions. This has helped me a lot in getting to know the requirements and expectations of the customers better.
By the time the staff members get settled with their work, I move out of my branch with one of my colleges for visit to the nearby village areas. I have been allotted four Gram Panchayats with 39 villages as service area. Today, there are two loan proposals to be worked in and three accounts where repayment is not regular.
We returned back to the branch by 3:00 pm and our stomach was already growling with hunger pangs. I had a break for lunch. It is now 4: 00 pm and all the Business Correspondents from four villages reported to the branch. Today’s agenda for discussion was making arrangements for organizing camps in their respective villages for promoting e- products.
With the close of the Transaction Hours at 4:30 pm, the cash - in- charge and other staff members are done with the front desk job. 5:00 pm, time for tea break. With a sip of tea we discussed about the incidents and achievements of the task allotted to the staff members and the problems they faced.
I along with my team members prepared the visit report for the loan proposal for manufacturing and cleaning of carpets. Followed my appraisal report and further processed the proposal for approval from the higher authority. Other staff members were busy completing the back-office job. After compilation of the data and achievement figures, it was reported to our Zonal Office. We were to the brim completing all the job when the clock chimed 6:30. It was already dim outside and chirping of birds could be heard. We wrapped up our day’s work, inspected the branch premises and the guard locked the premises gate. On the way to home, my phone rang. My mother called and her voice showed excitement. I recollected that I had promised to take her shopping after office. I sighed and braced myself for a new session of work...
... replica of the article published in TRIVENI DHARA (House Magazine of Allahabad Bank) Vol. 30* December 2017
