Difference is Not Skin Deep

Today I went to submit few bills at Canara Bank and at HDFC, situated in the same street. Both banks has different interiors, different kind of personality, people, staff and even the kind of security.

This got me to think of good, grey and dull points about these two banks. I've listed few points and few suggestions for our old-time bankers.

HDFC Bank

• Glass doors, well lit interiors
• Beautiful ladies in the counters
• Smart young manager
• Dressed perfectly
• Clean, neat and organized
• Fleece you with additional payment at every service point
• Sometimes very sterile & impersonal ( like a snobbery/money mindedness)

Canara Bank

• Crowded at the disbursement counter
• People waiting for their turns
• Dim interior
• Underutilized floor space
• Older employees
• Ladies don't tempt me wrong
• Cash counter in a iron mesh
• More people from the middle class and lower income group (my kind)
• Ask a stupid question and the teller will frown

While the public sector banks work for the common man, the other flashy ones like ICICI, or HDFC serve more creamy layer of the society. I wonder if that's making all the difference or it it the general attitude of the bank..

Why don't Canara bank or SBI pull up their sleeves to give the common man a better service a better teller to make the experience enjoyable.

There could be several reasons. One is the lack of money, the management styles, organization structure or it's just their nature to be like this.

What can you do to make your interaction with the bank an interesting and pleasant experience.

what Govt banks can do:

• An assistant on the floor ( an usher ) Esp, when old folks come in
• Put a sexy broad with a pleasant smile at the teller counter
• Optimize the sign-in forms ( some changes)
• Educate customer to use online service
• Cross-sell other services through in-house marketing agent ( esp housing, personal loan, gold loan)

Oh, my steam has run out. Pls do help our older gen banks to compete and thrive in the new world.