The Kolkata-based state-run United Bank of India (UBI) will close down seven regional offices after having closed down 14 branches all over the country.
In a bid to bring about a balance in the employee distribution at its regional offices, the bank has decided to merge every two regional offices at seven different locations in the country.
The rational behind the merger is to bring back the operational balance that was lost with the outgo of 1,600 officers of all grades through its voluntary retirement scheme. While West Bengal will witness four mergers, one regional office each in Bihar, Orissa, and Assam will be closed down.
Two offices at Howrah and Hoogly, in West Bengal will be replaced by one at Howrah. The bank has already decided on merging two offices, one each at Baharampur and Nadia. Regional offices at Malda and North Bengal will also be merged into one.
The CRM-I branch at Kolkata, which has so long functioned directly under the deputy general manager's office, will be merged with one regional office in the city. Though a decision with regards to merger of CRM-I is yet to taken, sources said this office could be merged with either its North Kolkata office or the one at Salt Lake.
Meanwhile, the management has decided to merge two regional offices each at Sambalpur and Bhubaneswar in Orissa. Two offices each at Katihar and Patna in Bihar will be merged.
The merger is expected to streamline operations following the VRS. The number of regional offices were governed by the number of branch office in a locality.
One regional office for every 36 bank branches was the thumb rule. This was not followed in every state and regional offices controlling less than 36 offices are also in operation.
Now with strict directives from the government with regards to turnover per employee and better profitability, the bank is being forced to rationalise bank branches and offices on business grounds. It was originally planned to close down a total of 40 branches throughout the country. The bank till date has closed down 14 branches.
