Page 104 - A Banker Down the Rabbit Hole

30. A borrower gone broke

I t is said that he who has no dignity or decides to have none, will

never repay.

I got transferred to another branch on promotion. But I had to
attend court proceedings on hearing dates in the case of law college drop
out defaulter borrower at the earlier branch. The borrower would come
and tell me openly, "Bringing me to court is not a good thing you have
done to me." I would retort, "It was not me but the bank that brought
you here. You only had forced bank to take this action after your default.
Had I not been posted at that branch, some other branch manager would
have done this for the bank. I am an employee to earn my livelihood at
the bank. You have to repay to the bank, not to me. I will not receive
the amount personally if you decide to repay and I will not lose anything
if you did not pay. But I am accountable to my organization."

I further told him, "Being an educated person you should understand and
do what is right." On this, he asked me, "Is it not good and right that I
have never harmed you in spite of your filing suit against me?" This was
a common dialogue we used to have in the court premises whenever
we met.

But he used to tell me that the earlier Branch Manager had ruined him
and he would go all out against him to deny the loan liability. After 4-5
hearings, he did not pay to his advocate like he had not paid to the bank.
The case was decided ex-party against the borrower and guarantor and
decree was passed for recovery.

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