SBI Manager Transferred: Refused to Speak Kannada at Bengaluru’s Chandapura Branch
Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday condemned a State Bank of India (SBI) branch manager in Chandapura, Anekal taluk, for refusing to communicate in Kannada despite repeated requests from a customer. The incident, which took place at the Suryanagar branch, gained public attention after a video went viral showing the manager declining to speak in the state’s official language and insisting that she only knew Hindi.
The customer, who demanded that the manager converse in the state’s official language, was allegedly told: “Where is it written that I should speak in Kannada? Show me the rules. I will never speak in Kannada. You talk to my SBI chairman.”
In response, Siddaramaiah took to social media, stating: “The SBI branch manager refusing to speak in Kannada and English and showing disregard to citizens is strongly condemnable. We appreciate SBI’s swift action in transferring the official. The matter may now be treated as closed.”
“All bank employees must treat customers with dignity and make every effort to speak in the local language. I urge the Union finance ministry and department of financial services to mandate cultural and language sensitisation training for all bank staff across India. Respecting the local language is respecting the people,” said Siddaramaiah.
Following the incident, several Kannada organisations staged protests demanding strict action against the manager. Police confirmed the incident occurred at the Chandapura branch but said no formal complaint was registered.
Bangalore South MP Tejasvi Surya also criticised the manager’s conduct. “This behaviour by the SBI branch manager is simply unacceptable. If you are doing customer-interface work in Karnataka, especially in a sector like banking, it is important to communicate with customers in the language they know,” Surya posted on X.
Meanwhile, the SBI has not yet issued a statement on the matter, but the incident has sparked a broader discussion on the importance of multilingualism in public services. Critics argue that while Hindi is the official language of India, the use of regional languages in customer service is essential for inclusivity and effective communication.
The controversy has also drawn attention to the need for better training and guidelines for bank employees, particularly in regions with significant linguistic diversity. While the SBI has a policy of providing services in multiple languages, the manager’s refusal to speak Kannada has raised questions about the enforcement of such policies.
As the matter unfolds, the incident highlights the growing emphasis on cultural sensitivity and linguistic inclusivity in public sector services. The response from the Chief Minister and local politicians underscores the importance of ensuring that all citizens, regardless of their language, are treated with respect and provided with equitable services.