[Resolved]  State Bank of India — Average Quarterly Balance Interpretation

Dear Sir / Madam at State Bank Of India,
To the best of our understanding the SBI should have uniform rules across its branches in the country and not leave any branch to its own hegemony or become a law unto itself. This is specifically with reference to the ‘deduction of money’ policy for account holders.
I have a Current Account with SBI, Sagar Tower, District Centre, Janak Puri, New Delhi - 110058 since Dec. 12, 2008.There is a policy / rule which states that a deduction of money will take place from the current account holder every quarter if the ‘average quarterly balance’ is not maintained. 1, 000/- were deducted on Dec. 31, 2008 and 1, 000/- more were deduced on April 31, 2009, and 550/- were deducted on March 13, 2009 itself as account keeping fees.
- I don't know if 1, 000/- deduction is legitimate.
- For the period April 1 to June 30, 2009, the so called average quarterly balance of 10, 000/- is being maintained. Only for the initial 5 days, the balance was less than 10, 000/-. I have been told by a very ‘casual mannered employee’ of the bank a few months ago that you, SBI, reserves the right to deduct money the day the balance goes even rupees 10/- below 10, 000/-, even if for the rest of the duration, the balance is much above 10, 000/-. I have been told categorically that it is upto the bank.
That ‘casual mannered employee’ has been seen only once by me but he was sitting on the seat of another employee who was probably on leave. This same casual employee forcefully tried to keep into his custody the Internet Banking Kit when I told him that I have tried to log in with the username and password given (for the first time) but can't do so. It is surprising that you can’t sustain or run properly your own made system. He said that this should not have been given to me in the first place since ‘I don't deserve it’. I don't know why it was issued then. He also noted the username and password on a piece of paper and kept it in his pocket. I don’t know what's going on.
When I tell your Chief Manager (one Mr. Sikka), he always tells me to meet Mr. A, Mr. B, then when I meet Mr. A, Mr. B, he / she sends me to Mr. C, Mr. D, then he / she tells me to meet the Chief Manager. So I am always made to go in a loop. To get the statement I am always asked to go down the steps to another room. When I go there, your Security Guard follows me and asks me rudely "What are you doing here?" I need to understand why I am being harassed.
I know that Janak Puri (postal code 110058 - Republic Of India) is getting lawless by the day and I also know that certain illegal elements who don the 'State Security Apparatus' uniform or miscreants otherwise have forcefully and intimidatingly made inroads everywhere. Probably your SBI Branch at Janak Puri has been afflicted. Maybe your own people (from wherever) don't want me to have an account with you. But you can tell me likewise simply in plain language. It’s that easy. I'll understand.
But let's come straight back to the core issue. If you deduct 1, 000/- this June ending, then once again for the first few days of July, the balance would be less than 10, 000/-, then I would be rushing to top-up the account so that the funds are sufficiently in excess of 10, 000/-. However, since the funds were less than 10, 000/- even for one day, then again you will deduct 1, 000/- at the end of the July 1st to Sept. 30, 2009 quarter (as I have been made to understand). So I will always be paying 1, 000/- to the Bank every quarter. I think this is very harsh and unfair. It is hoped you don’t deduct 1, 000/- this time around June 30, 2009. But probably this is how you fill up your coffers and then shout "in the top 100 banks of the world". Ask yourself a question, “do you deserve to be there?” Please look up the meaning of ‘average quarterly balance’. Your people at Toll Free Number also give conflicting ‘opinions’ each time regarding the ‘average quarterly balance’.
Size or magnitude is very good SBI, but completing education (of any kind) is essential because if you don’t, then complascency creeps in, cutting corners becomes the norm in the name of progress and development is a farce. It is pseudo. Your conduct is wayward and delinquent.

Yours,
Sandeep Vij.