This refers to Sunanda K Datta-Ray’s column “Banking on yesterday’s standard” (Where money talks, October 8). I believe that the kind of experience the author has had is best forgotten in this age of banking where all efforts are being made to ensure that customers do not have to visit a bank at all. In the years to come, banking will become completely impersonal. However, we, the senior citizens, still need our bank’s branch to give us currency notes of smaller denominations (ATMs dish out mostly Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes), to protect our valuables in safe deposit lockers and for temporary loan against our fixed deposits. In all these areas, all we require is decent service at a reasonable cost. But we see that not much has improved in banking standards despite technological advancement. Yet, it is difficult for customers to protest for ultimately they need a bank’s services. It would be wonderful if, as in the olden days, customers too are made to feel that banks need them equally.
Narendra M Apte, Pune
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