Page 67 - A Banker Down the Rabbit Hole

17. A perceived non-performer

T he Zonal Manager once visited a Branch Headed by me for the

first time. I had joined hardly six months earlier. I was excited to
apprise him the efforts made by me to set new records for
mobilization of deposits from customers far and wide,
consolidating the position of recovery of loans, obtain loan renewal
documents, create systemic records for follow up and track each borrower
account and have ready status of each account at glance or on tips. I
showed him, some of these records, written neatly and systematically in
good handwriting. I disclosed to him, "These records were prepared by our
Loan Officer posted at this branch. We both were visiting the field together
to meet borrowers and depositors on bank's motorcycle."

He expressed satisfaction on the progress of the branch under my charge
for the last six months. While leaving, he called me on one side and asked
me if that Loan Officer was really working so hard? I confirmed this and
he said, "May be he is performing well under your leadership". I asked
him, "Sir, if you don't mind, kindly tell me why do you feel so? He
revealed, "His earlier Branch Head was complaining about him many
times on his performance and working style. I thought he should be
posted at a further distant branch from his home town for not performing
to the satisfaction of his Branch Head." I did not disclose anything to our
Loan Officer for long. I was interested to know about his Branch Head
because I had also worked under the same boss for two years and I had
found him a quite reasonable person.

The present conduct of the Loan Officer at this branch, was at a great
variance with that reported by his old boss to the Zonal Manager. I

64 | A Banker down the Rabbit Hole