Page 143 - A Banker Down the Rabbit Hole

have adequate knowledge of banking and related experience of handling
transactions of the functional responsibility given at the overseas centre.
These instructions were passed on by the RBI to Chiefs of all Commercial
Banks in India having overseas branches. Our bank decided to hold a
written test to evaluate the adequacy of knowledge before short listing
for the interview and giving weightage for experience in the related field.
This time, I was placed among top five in the written test merit list and
qualified for the interview.

Inside the interview room
I was being interviewed for overseas posting by a high powered selection
committee. It comprised Chairman of the Bank and one representative
each on Bank's Board of Directors from the Reserve Bank of India and
the Government of India (Ministry of Finance) respectively.

After settling down in the chair in front of the Board, the Bank Chairman,
asked me, "Are you the same officer who had conducted a Management
Study on "Reasons for deficiencies in Credit Appraisal and MIS of the
Bank?" I replied in the affirmative. He also confirmed having read the
recent Study Material in shape of a mini -book on "Service Area Approach
of Banking and its operational aspects" authored by me for the benefit
of the field staff. These publications were completed by me recently while
working as a faculty at Staff College of the bank.

The interview started on positive note and good connect with the
Chairman of the Selection Committee. Then questions started from other
members. The Government Director asked me why I joined a bank after
doing M.Sc. in Chemistry and what the linkage was. I did not find it tough
to answer because I had already handled this question so well, first time
at the time of selection as a PO and next time during the interview for
first promotion also.

I replied saying, "The main eligibility for the post of a Bank Officer was a

140 | A Banker down the Rabbit Hole