Page 106 - A Banker Down the Rabbit Hole

31. Nice talking and decent looking

may turn out to be bad boyzz….

I joined a particular branch as a Branch Head. The first thing I did

was, I started reviewing the default accounts to check if any loan
account had crossed the limitation period to initiate legal
proceedings for recovery. The earlier Branch Manager had stayed
for a really short duration of 6 months. He too had tried to manage
accounts but felt under huge stress and every other day sent in
application for his transfer from this branch on medical grounds.

Fortunately, I got a full time Loan Officer attached to our branch after
lot of requests to our higher office. We had to do huge follow up of large
number of high value loan accounts at the branch with his support. One
such loan account was of a transport operator who had bought a fleet
of 'Ford' model trucks and there had been no repayment for the last two
years. The loan amount had ballooned to become almost double the
original amount.

I met the guarantor and borrower on priority. They told me, "We had
decided to buy 'Ford' trucks but were facing lot many problems of
frequent breakdowns and non-availability of spare parts. It was a genuine
problem faced by all the Ford Truck owners and this fact could be verified
from the market. But as it had been our choice, we have to face the
consequences also and be liable fully for the bank dues."

I was pretty much impressed with their gentlemanly conduct. They signed
the loan balance confirmation, gave a letter in writing that they would
pay the overdue amount in three months' time even if they would have
to sell their properties. I went to meet the guarantor; he too was very

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