10 Reasons Why Not To Join Bank as Probationary Officers (PO) ?

When I say “PSB Banks are not a good option“, it may hurt many and probably demotivate newly joined PO at various public sector banks or many of aspirants; who are giving days and night in preparing themselves for Bank PO exam. My concern is not to hurt any of my fellow friends or colleagues or lowering their confidence, rather I just want to showcase the real life of a bank PO to outside world, about actual banking environment, standard of living, Career growth and working scenario in general at any of the Public Sector Banks.

There are many, who are dreaming about getting a good job in bank as Probationary Officer with charming career growth and good money but in real,  they are actually a lost person with full of stress and problematic personal life.

I am a bankers with one of the Premier Nationalized Bank, I just want to share my experience as Bank PO to all my friends through this blog.

I joined as Bank PO, after doing MBA and having good years of experiences with some of the premier IT companies in India at Delhi/Chennai locations. I joined the bank with full zeal and enthusiasm but within a short span I found that – 

1. PSBs are never bothered about the expertise and Qualifications. You may be posted to any of the verticals or branches irrespective of your qualifications or experiences or area of expertise. For PSB, qualifications are mandatory only for fulfilling the eligibility for joining them. It doesn’t matter whether you are highly, average or lowery qualified.

All are same for them whether a graduate from premier institute or an average guy with average qualification from any of the institutes or correspondence courses.

For example an average BA graduate in history may be designated as digital banker where as MBA in Systems may be posted in remote village for cash payment.

2. Newly joined probationary officers are given 15 days training which is as good as your class lectures of BE or MBA or graduation. Training is good only in one respect  i.e. 15 days halting are paid. Many a time, it doesn’t.

3. Post completion of training, you will be posted to branches/offices directly, works are assigned to you by the department head or branch managers. I assure you that in the branches or admin offices, your smart work is not counted rather the number of sitting hours which must be invariably matched with the head/Branch head hours in the office.

4. Operational output is a vague word in the world of public sector banking eternity and no one truly care about it. One has to give 100% in office, it doesn’t matter whether he or she has actually worked or not. It means, if you are a smart worker, you will definitely a looser because you will be assigned a lot of works.

5. If branch is smaller, possibilities are (maximum cases I have seen and under practice in many of the branches) that you will be asked to handle cash counter (Don’t think ,it’s only a clerk job) or at the cash officer table , where you will be showcasing your talent in making DD/PO or if you are lucky enough, you will be asked to make Fixed Deposits. (Which is also a very Irritating, customer mainly senior citizens would eat your all experiences and qualifications while filling 15G/15H form).  

Read : Government Approves Bank Officers Equivalent To Group “A” Post

6. Don’t think you would be given a training or in branch you would be given privilege on newly joined. Manager may ask you to do anything beyond your experience level,  treating it as “On job training”. You will have to learn it by yourself” and the best part , your manager himself may not confident about the guidelines & policies.

7. “Mistake” is a very crucial word in the world of banking industry. If you have done anything wrong, You will be penalized monetarily.

Once I heard from someone, “If some one doesn’t make any mistake, he is God”, For Management all their PO’s and officers are GOD because as per their perception, they actually don’t do “any mistake”.

MBA Principles define 1% human error as acceptable in operational activities but in Banking, 1% error means loss to your one month or more, hard earning salary. Penalty is directly proportional to monetary loss. You did mistake , You will pay the losses. Papa will nicely say “Beta Ghar se bhi le gaye !!” 

8. In true sense , it’s your own “Level of Intelligence” or past experiences, which will help you in dealing with such situations.

9. Whenever you ask for some favor with your higher offices, better not to request anything. 

10. Branch Keys,(Personally it was always awful for me), PO’s are the softest target for holding the branch keys. Very first day of your branch, Branch manager or office in charge will show you the set of some big keys. Same day itself  these keys are your own baby and you will have to look after this.

Do remember, there are hefty penalty on loosing the keys. I do remember one of my friend paid about Rs 16,000 as penalty. Later, I Understood, why do POs called as “Son in law” of the bank ?

Never think that, it’s attender, who will open door of branch for you. Most of the time, it’s you who will open the gate to let them in. Especially in the evening time. I did it along with my Chief Manager many a time. 

11. Never treat yourself as King or son in law of the bank. Even attender will never listen to you. Better not try to assign work to anyone and do it by yourself.

Now close your eyes and think for a minute. This is as like your story if you are a banker. These are just synopsis, the full thesis I would share some other day. 

Do you have a story like this ? Why not you try to share with us : Click Here  

Keep in touch for any issues related to banking careers, preparation or suggestion.

BookMark this post for Updates | You May Join us on Twitter | Join us on FACEBOOK

59 Comments
  1. DREAM OF BECOMING BANK PO……. HAHA ….Those who want to get stuck in life should go to BAnk PO. I have left my "luxurious" job as a Business analyst" at a big MNC company in Hyderabad with good pay to join this Dumb PO job. This was the most ridiculous decision I have taken in my life that also due to family pressure. I have seen both the sides… (grasses on both the sides) and I belive " jinko life me mehnat nahi karna, jinke paas efficiency nahi, jinhe bas baithe bithaye salary milti rahi…. jinhe Private job me insecuritty feel hoti hai because they cant perform ,, aise hi log BANK PO ban ke aate hai. Employees here in Bank lack productivity, efficiency is the biggest problem, har chees me paper work, Work which could be done using Excel , SQLetc like Tallying and all they prefer doing by taking print outs. No reward for doing something innovative, Hard working fellow and no work person .. both get same salary. I was posted in Mumbai and in my bank ( syndicate Bank) people were actually "Technologically Illiterate" and reluctant to adopt new techniques even simple things like working in excel. Connectivity is pathetic, communication is like hell… till the time of my leaving bank i didny got my own email id, ( i workked for 1.5 years), I have to rely on IP messenger. Those who think you will get less work pressure in bank….. forget it…. till scale 3 you have to work more than 10 hrs if posted in metros or till 8-9 hrs if posted in tier 2. Till you finish scale 3 you are already 35. You think Job security…ohh please…. yes its true that they will not fire you anytime but I ll give you an example…. one of my collegue passed a wrong cheque worth Rs 1000 as 10 lakh due to small error. Since teh beneficiary customer ran away …. the amount was deducted from his salary in monthly installments. In bank also you have targets to achive. In private they atleast give calculated targets … here nobody bothers … manager says … you have to fullfill targets no matter how….like the case it happened in JAN DHANYOJNA. I happy after leaving this shit job of BANK PO . If you want to become banker and have interest in finance then only you should join … then only you will enjoy your life. If you are joining because its a govt job a=then you are teh dumbest fool on this earth…. WHICH MANY OF YOU ARE

  2. Aspirants please note!
    I am working in Dena bank as PO. The true story is that in nationalized banks there i no systematic approach to train a new comer, in software or other fields they train you for 3 to 6 months or even 1 year as Graduate engineer trainees and after that they expect you to do work.
    In banking they want you to walk for long hours before you learn to start crawling.
    I am really disappointed.
    I want to quit but i have signed a bond of Rs1,50,000.

  3. I've a offer from UCO bank as P.O. I wish to study for UPSC simultaneously, will I get enough time. And can you tell about workload.

  4. Sir i am in defence forces nd hving around 10 yr of service .i am getting around 30000/annum bt i am thinking to quit this job nd want to join sbi as po. Is it a right decision or not

  5. SBI PO vs SBI Assistant manager(Syetem) which is better? How is increment ? Carrier opportunities?

  6. which is best write PO exam and do a bank job and after gaining experience do MBA in finance and banking to get a better bank job for earning more or after graduation do MBA in banking and then get a bank job?

  7. hello sir, i have just joined sbi and the work environment and seniors tortures are making me sick… prior to.this i was working with Accenture whre i used to enjoy and love my work.. there was no shift extension and i used to work for.10 hrs but with breaks. but.here in bank no breaks.are offered except a lunch break and that too of only 15 Mins as seniors nevers asks me to go for lunch…..i am leaving office 7-8pm everyday i.dont what they.want me to do..nobody can learn in a single.day in accenture one has to. undergo training for 2months after he is expected to work and that too with very carefully ..productivity doesnt matter for.new comers … i was very keen to.join bank but the.day i was in branch real picture came …..even proper trainings are not.provided wat else u can expect…… please suggest sir wat should i do ….i informed my parents about leaving.this job but.they are being positive that one day everything will be fine.and they despiratly want me to.stick.to.this jobl

    • I worked in Genpact and joined as po in canarabank .. Even I feel the same like how u r feeling.. bank job is torture……

    • Agreed..the work environment is worst in the banking sector or any government department…..anyway decision urs but it depends on branch to branch……try to move out from the same branch…..up to scale III life will be troubled…..

1 2 3 4 5

Leave a reply

Sorapedia