Page 71 - A Banker Down the Rabbit Hole

19. Crossing over the wild river

Yamuna for bank business

T he two brothers who did farming in a big way in service area

of our branch, were our customers. They had huge deposits
in local post office and depositing more there year after year.
Some of our customers provided us the lead and asked us to
meet them. We met them and explained the difference between
customer service provided by the bank and the post office. We could
convince them that banking with us was far more beneficial. They assured
us to shift their deposits to our bank when those matured at the post
office.

They indicated on the same day of our meeting that in case we wanted
the deposits of more than Rs.5 lakh immediately, we needed to come
with them and collect cash in lieu of sale of their crop at a site after
crossing the river Yamuna. This amount was a huge amount in those days
for a branch of that size. They also tried to dissuade us a bit from reaching
the place saying that it would involve crossing the Yamuna River and it
might be flooded. We showed our strong intention to get this deposit
and agreed to cross the river to reach the appointed place. Our Loan
Officer made enquiries from other customers about the level of water
then in the river and ways to cross it to other side. He came to know
that some farmers have made some make shift arrangements to cross it
over their tractors at one spot.

We decided to use that mode as the level and current of water was not
dangerous. We reached the bank of Yamuna on our side and found the
depositor waiting for us with his tractor. He helped us cross the Yamuna
easily. He gave the cash received (by him) to us, entertained us with

68 | A Banker down the Rabbit Hole