Had a long, hectic annoying experience of the Bank. Review on State Bank Of India

Earlier when I was in the school, I did not require a bank  account under my name. Frankly nobody is much aware while schooling, though we had to pay our school fees in Bank, that was the only time I actually visited the State Bank.

But this is one experience that I have had recently. I opened an account on State Bank Of India. The nearest branch that I had near my area, was the ONGC IRS Chandkheda Branch.

I was not aware of the days, whether which day I should not be expecting much of a rush in the Bank. Fortunately or unfortunately it was a Monday morning of the first week of June. There was a pretty longer line, had I been aware that there is such a big'in-line' situation at the bank!

Though I was given a token after 30 minutes standing in the queue., it was 117.I did not know how to react to it. But I was peacefully standing at a corner in the bank. Pondering at the condition of the banks in India and listening to the gossips that the people had, with the bank employees. Then I got to know that the pensioners had come to take their pension and as usual it was the first day of the week, and a pretty morning time. So this was much expected. It was a whole scenario of'Demonetization period' that we recently experienced.

It was 2 hours after it was my turn for the bank, I was told to visit the counter no. 4 for the information of opening the bank account. I went there for asking the Employee about the process and the formalities that I had to fill in. I was satisfied with their highly co operative and a well versed language that they used. Their tone was of persuasion. Though it took only another 1  hour before all the bank procedures were complete. I was told that I would be getting a letter by post within a month. After a month, it did come. it was a whole package containing all the brochures and a Card under my name. I was actually happy seeing my name under the card. I had been informed that my PIN for the card had arrived and I should collect that in person from them. Here is where the hectic problems started.

I went to the counter at the bank where I was supposed to collect the PIN. The respective Bank Employee responsible was'On duty' and was not available at the moment. So there was another Bank official in charge of that counter. I had to wait for a few minutes, then came  the Sir. He asked for an Identity Card. I had Aadhar Card with me. I showed it to him, he was annoyed to see the Aadhar Card, he said that this is not acceptable, and demanded for another Identity Card. I was shocked to see that Aadhar Card is my identity of being an Indian, and how can a Government bank deny its value worth. I was highly disappointed. Though I went back and brought my Voter ID. I was given the envelope, in which it contained the Confidential PIN. He told me what to do next, I followed the instructions. But the PIN was not considered valid due to some  reason, so I asked the employee again as to what I should be doing. So he directly asked me  the'confidential PIN'. I was not feeling good, though I was persuaded by his request, and on his request I allowed him to try it himself. As there is limit of using the card thrice only for the wrong PIN. So it was done.

The employee did not have any satisfactory answer for the incidence. So he requested me Write an application for the New PIN. I was ready with a pen-paper and wrote an application.

I had to wait another month for the New PIN to arrive. Again I waited. Then also the PIN was expired, though I was much  before the expiry time,  but this time they had an excuse saying there is"'system fault', there could be any mistake in alignment of the records".

I am now left with no option. Still the Employee gave me a new idea of trying to get the PIN via the registered mobile number, and then open the account via the provided  OTP. But I tried that thrice, that is also not working. So it is 2 years after opening the account, that I am unable to operate my account fully, and have to take the help of Cheque system.

This was an annoying experience that I had.

If there are such leaks in'Digitalisation' of which our honorable Prime Minister is campaigning for, then it is actually not acceptable to we Indians. The other factors are Safety from hacking by the attackers in securing our confidential details which makes such banking highly unsafe.

I have attached the following documents as proof.