Banking As a Profession


For Young graduate, an attractive offer after college is banking profession. It remains in this most wanted job position for years and it is because it enjoys much respect and prestige in the society. After the extinction of BSRB the only window to enter into this well sought career is Probationary Officers (PO) Exams conducted by individual banks. Banks inducts eligible graduates by this exam for training for a probational period of two years. The selected candidates performance during the probation period will decide their position after training. Different Banks recruit probationary officers during different periods in the year. Students has to keep on watch about the notifications and should be alert on applying promptly.

Career as a Probationary Officer


Pursuing Career as a probationary officer is a unique experience in itself. But it is the most common and highly sought after question that "what a Probationary Officer really do?".After the selection and till the date of joining the same question was making my mind puzzle. Hence I would like to share some of my experience with all of you looking after banks as a career option. I would be sharing my day to day experience within the bank so stay with us ...

Saturday

Agriculture Training InfoTech Academy Patiala

We have been scheduled for the Agriculture Institutional training for 2 weeks from 3rd Nov. to 14th Nov. I have been allotted InfoTech Academy Patiala. We are nearly 72 probationary officers including 30 female officers. They have provided us with all the facilities. In agriculture training they are imparting knowledge about agriculture loan products. More emphasize is given on PBKC and Kisan Gold Card, being the best schemes of our bank in agri sector.
Our schedule at training center is very much friendly. In morning 6 to 7 for Yoga, 8 to 9 breakfast then classes for 9.30 to 5.30 including 2 tea breaks and lunch, after that gossiping 1-2 hours and then 7 to 9 for badminton. After taking dinner, we will be enjoying 1-2 hours playing any game everyday.

Bye Bye

Friday

October 9 - RO structure

Working in regional office is a different experience than branches. In regional office, there is no customer dealing. We are nearly 25 people in regional office working for 36 branches located in 5 districts under our controlling authority. Our role is to lead branches under our region in a way to confine their activities under the rules & regulations as prescribed by the bank. Assistant General Manager (AGM) scale – V is heading our office. We are having two chief manager scale – IV (one for administrative and other for advances) and different cells working under their guidance. Today I will confirm all the cells information.

Bye Bye

Thursday

October 8 - Inspection Cell

As I have told earlier, I am working these days in Inspection Cell, Regional Office. I am deputed here to take care of the complaints received direct, through banking ombudsmen (appointed by RBI), through General Manager Office (GMO) or Zonal Office. After receiving a complaint, at first we will be taking up matter to the concerned branch manager (BM) and comments of BM are sought regarding the complaint. BM will be advised to solve out matter with the complainant and receive a satisfaction letter from complainant. We have to prepare a review of the complaint to put up it to competent authority. Competent authority will review the complaint, BM comments and satisfaction letter. If everything is in place then we are allowed to file the complaint otherwise competent authority will be putting some observations on the review and observations are followed as per.

Bye Bye

Wednesday

October 7 - A nice journey

Hello,

Since a long time, I was unable to update my experience with all of you. Now again I will start sharing my journey towards becoming a successful banker and telling what a probationary officer really does?

In the meantime of 3 months, there has been really a great experience with bank and a richful experience. In those days I learned an important thing that "try to give your full to bank, bank will follow you" i.e. bank will fulfill all the requirement of yours if you are giving your 100 %. Make it sure, bank will never let you down.

So starting from back, Institutional training at Patiala, Infotech Academy was really good. In those 14 days we learned many new things. Each and every new day was full of new things. Bank took care of all the POs in full enthusiasm. There were dedicated teachers for training and facilities were reasonably very good. On a single demand all the material for sports was provided to us. We enjoyed one day trip to Kasouli also. All n all training was a mixture of fun and study. We were near about 50 at the training centre.

Coming back to branch, I was sent to a village for correcting some data regarding Loan Accounts on deputation. I visited that branch for 8 days and checked 200 accounts and succeeded amending two accounts to bring in  regular position from NPA status. After that, I returned back to Hisar Main branch and with in two to three days, regional office called for me. Now I am working in regional office - III, Hisar on deputation for a month now. I am working with Inspection cell especially for complaints of branches and employees. It is interesting work as all the complaints are different all the time. They will require your attention and time. Although this is my training period and I was given Hisar Main branch for General Training like cheque clearing, draft issuing, pass-book, Accounts opening etc. but sitting in inspection cell is also a unique experience.

Saturday

21st Day - Target 100

In continuation of Account correction, today I was given to prepare CIF (customer identification) of 100 accounts. I completed my work early evening and got free for rest of the day. Chief Manager give me instructions to get prepared relieving letter from a staff member. Relieving letter is necessary whenever we have to go for official work anywhere.

Bye Bye

Friday

20 th Day - Accounts correction continued

Chief Manager made a team to correct all the accounts ASAP as H.O. is giving pressure day by day. Today our target was nearly 200 accounts but only 100-110 were accomplished.
Our branch received a letter today from H.O. for relieving me for the Institutional Training. My "General banking & Computers" training schedule is 27 July to 13th of August at Patiala. I am scheduled to reach there on 26th. Let us see if we are provided internet connection there. See you all there.

Bye Bye

19th Day - Accounts Correction

In normal conditions work system always flow from initial to final stage but my work pattern is something reverse. Today H.O. ordered all branches to maintain all the accounts of bank in proper condition with all information. Our branch is having 1000 odd accounts. Whenever an account is opened only the necessary information is provided in that and no one cares about the optional. Now H.O. made some optional information necessary. That means we have to correct all the thousand accounts manually.
Since today I have never opened a single account at my own but I corrected around 100 accounts today.

Bye Bye

18 th Day - (Bank = Sea)

Now I am realizing one important thing that Banking work is like a sea which have no ends. There are so many things to do in a specific area say General Banking, Loan section etc. And there are so many type of branches like public, commercial, foreign etc. Approximately it ranges between 10 to 20 type of branches in a bank. All the branches would be having different type of work divided in various cells.

Bye Bye

17th Day - Calling India

Day started with calling other branches of state bank group because the cheques we have received for clearing were showing errors. These were the cheques of current a/c holders and H.O. has made mandatory to put in some additional information in their accounts. Now I am trying to open new accounts and all that.

Bye Bye

Monday

16 th day - It is saturday

Saturday came again and tomorrow will be Sunday. good. Today we were having a small party. I am not sure who was giving the party and for which purpose. Nothing new today.

Bye Bye

15 th day - working ahead

It was really wonderful for me that a person from clerical staff was on leave and his work was assigned to me. Officially I got a charge for the first time. Today I was provisionally crediting the A/c of those persons on whose name we received the cheques yesterday (the same cheques I have posted). These crediting will be confirmed only after we will receive advice from the clearing house that all the outward cheques we have sent today's morning are proper. I made a single batch for all the cheques. In the evening time I was posting the inward cheques.

Bye Bye

14 th day - Clearing n Clearing

I started with same work of clearing outward cheques. I am posted in Main branch of City Hisar and usually all other branches of same city sends their outward cheques to the main branches i.e. why an individual is required to accomplish this work daily. Today I posted near about 200 cheques into system but there was a difference in the balance given by me and the balance taken from the person who does it manually. It took my lunch break to solve the problem.

Bye Bye

Saturday

13th day - Hands on General Banking

As I have told earlier I started with the general banking which is the first thing in banking. Generally it is clerical work but a PO should have knowledge of all the things. I started with clearing of outward cheques. Outward cheques are those cheques which we have received for making payment. That means If you receive a cheque from a person of the bank other than the bank in which you are having A/c and you deposit the cheque in your bank for clearing. It would be outward cheque for your bank and inward cheque for the bank on which it is written.

Bye Bye

Wednesday

12th day - Eat Elephant piece by piece

In the morning I realized that I am having uncertainties even doing the basics. Normally all the new appointed officers are given training for the basic first and then they are appointed in the branches. But our training is postponed for a while. Now I am working in Foreign Banking Division but having problem with the basic things like Indian banking. That is why I decided to put my hands on simple banking first. Today I started with draft making and clearing.

Bye Bye

11th day - rock on!

Almost each and everyone is having there part of error file generated from the audit done in last month. Some of the officers is dealing with these files on daily routine. Our branch manager is also having his file containing errors in which there is an issue on Unclaimed Banker cheque (Banker cheque are DD payable in the same city). Now this work is assigned to me and the special thing is that no one is having an idea to how to deal with these unclaimed banker cheques out of which almost 80% are 2-4 years old and remaing are 6-10. I started asking my seniors about it but got nothing. Then after some time I got an idea from an another PO(of last batch). Now when I tried to accomplish it showed "Your capability level is too low". In the bank everyone's ID is provided a capability level ranges from 0 to 9 in our branch. My capability level is 0 and after confirmation it will be 7.

Bye Bye

Sunday

10th day - A decade about to complete

Today is Saturday and I started my day uploading VVRs (Voucher Verification Reports) on the SBoP all India server. Then Deputy Manager told me to type an LC letter for a party. During typing I found a shortcoming in it. I reported it to Deputy Manager and he consulted it with the party over phone. Then I realised the importance of on-the-job training. In the day time we checked ATM and the same error was still there. Near about 5 O'clock I came home cause today is half day.

Bye Bye

9th day - Good Friday

Day started at 8 O'clock in morning for me as chief manager has told me to come early. Today an another officer was scheduled to come in bank at 8 who was manager of this branch between 2004-08. Chief Manager and me waited for him until 9:15 and we started our work. There was some shortcomings in the loan files of 2004-08 period and that's why only that manager was able to help us in the matter. Some of the borrowers were long defaulter and there a/c was NPA since a long time. After 11, I came back to my routine work. In the evening time it was something special for me. I managed ATM feeding work myself. It was my first day of ATM feeding and the same day we found it short by 15000 in physical balance (the total balance available in ATM counted by human) vis-a-vis Admin balance (the total balance of ATM as per transactions done). We left the difference as it was for automatic revarsal of admin balance to correct state. Let us see what happens next!

Bye Bye

Friday

8th day - LCs Again

Starting from morning today I was trying to understand Inland Letter of Credit (ILC). A single window operator with 25 year experience(a person who is allowed to transact up to Rs. 35,000 at there own seat along with there own work - This is done to reduce the queue in front of cash windows) started to teach me concept of ILC. He told me all the formalities to be done in respect of ILC. Then I get to know a new concept in LC system which is called UBD (Usanse bills discounting). I made some vouchers myself for the UBD in evening.

Bye Bye

Thursday

7th day - Responsible work

Today it was great for me that I was having my separate ID to operate terminal and it boost my confidence for gaining more learning. In the morning I completed my last day work of Interest based claim of a company (I can't reveal any name here everything is confidential when you are in bank). After that I learned how to prepare Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) by real experience. With my ID I started learning new things. I was able to order 'print statement' after I configured printers with my ID. I bought a diary as my seniors told me to maintain one because it is most crucial thing in banking. I wrote down all the steps to be taken for feeding ATM. Next day I will try it myself.

Bye Bye

Tuesday

6th day - Calling continues

List is too much long and I was calling each one by one. Now response was coming from last day calling as 3-4 person came to deposit money or other documents citing that they have got a call from bank. In the day time I completed the list of car loan persons. Then I was given work to solve out an interest query which was confusing our senior madam for 2-3 days. Yeah I forget to tell that yesterday another PO came in our branch after completing his 15 days Institutional training from Gurgaon. He was rescheduled in the same branch for the another 3 months period. In the evening our mentor cum chief manager(scale-4) preached me for 15-20 minutes long.

Bye Bye

5th day - Monday morning

It was a good day. I worked a lot. I was calling to the defaulters of the loan specially the persons which were allotted car loan. I was asking them for depositing there dues and others pending documents like RC copy and insurance copy. I got my Pension Fund No. (PF) today. Now I am able to apply for the ID for operating our banks software called B@ncs24. In the evening time routine ATM feeding work was waiting for me along with my senior PO sir who was having 2 years experience in the bank.

Bye Bye

Saturday

4th day - Half day

Today we were discussing the same topic of interest for morning hours. After some time I was calling those people which are defaulting in Car loan at some points. In the day time statutory audit was scheduled that's why I was having no work to do because high profile work was on run.
I came early in the evening today as it is Saturday.

Bye Bye

Friday

3rd day - Mind Game

These days I am working like a steno - typing letters for the bank. Today I helped in International Banking division. Some filing work on foreign Letter of Credits (FLCs). I applied for the new salary a/c and Provident Fund (PF) no.
In the evening we were confused in a party's claim about a increased interest rate on Advance given to him. We spend 4-5 hours in evening for solving it out. And it is my homework too(at my own request). So let me do it now :) Today I came at 8:35 in evening with some homework.

Bye Bye

Thursday

2nd day - A hectic one

Everything was familiar today hence very less amount of hesitation feeling. In morning I gave assistance to SME division officer. There I matched the Letter of Credits (LC) with the register entries. In the noon time I got a chance to see ATM currency filling work. It was really a new experience as no one is allowed to stand in front of ATM when filling work is going on. (That is why probably a public person can not see it in their whole life).
In the evening time I typed two letters for the CAD controller. Today it was 8:30 in evening. As tomorrow an Auditor is coming in branch for inspection that is why some hassle was there.

Bye Bye

Wednesday

1st day - A lenghty one

First day 1 July 2009, today I joined my first branch of SBI. A heartily welcome by the Chief Manager (Scale-4) and a good introduction with the crew members of the SBI ship I started my day.
Among many options for me to place, Chief Manager decided to assign my duty in "International Banking Division" where a single lady was in charge. I helped her to post some entries in R-return register where foreign transactions are settled on fortnightly basis. Afternoon I was given a locker room opening a/c work for a client.
In the evening I was assisting Chief Manager till 8:15 for some documentation work. Yes it was exactly 8:15 in a sarkari job!

Bye Bye

My day to day experience with SBI

It was a great day when my friend called me saying my roll no appearing in the final selected candidates list.
After a month or so I got a provisional letter asking me to report State Bank of Patiala HO, Patiala for fulfilling pre-appointment formalities like medical, domicile etc. And the next day I got confirmation for my first branch of State Bank of Patiala (Associate bank of SBI) in Hisar which is my home city itself.

I got my Formal Appointment letter in which it was written that the first year of my job will be for training comprising institutional training and on the job training. My institutional training was postponed for a while as bank was requiring officers immediately.