J&K Bank Chairman and MD, R K Chhibber Wednesday visited South Kashmir where he interacted with zonal and cluster heads and lead bank officers.
Lauding the role played bythe staff in dispensing uninterrupted banking services to people amid ongoingCOVID19 pandemic, the CMD complimented the efforts put in by the entire staffin managing the branches, offices and ATMs very efficiently while managingcontinuity of business by facilitating general people.
He appreciated the effortsput in by both the zones for maintaining cordial relations with the districtadministration to ensure smooth functioning.
“I have come all the way tomeet you and listen to your problems and issues rather than taking any businessreview at this critical juncture, for, I am sure about your commitment andseriousness towards your institutional duty”, the CMD said adding, “However, weneed to remain aware that our sustainability and health as a profitableinstitution necessitates that sufficient income is generated from the businessso as to take care of expenses without putting any strain on the reserves ofthe Bank”.
Undersuch circumstances, he urged the staff to rise up to the occasion and put inaction the Bank’s considered mantra of ‘survival and revival should go hand inhand’ for all our customers.
“In order to make thathappen we have to meet the expectations of customers and keep facilitating themto the best of our abilities”, he said.
He said the fact that thebanking was included in essential services list for the first time by thegovernment highlights the importance of banking in the lives of people.
He said since J&K Bankwas known for working in tough conditions while undertaking the responsibilityefficiently, the efforts were being appreciated from every corner.
In the given conditions, hesaid, one of the measures to deal with the situation was to cut on costs, whichthe Bank has already initiated besides putting on hold the CSR spending.
While appreciating the factthat even though the business units/offices were working withless-than-required staff strength, the CMD said SOP was already in place.
Encouraging the staff toexplore all available business opportunities including micro business despitethe challenges and difficulties, the CMD recalled the age-old and time testedmaxim – “penny and penny make many.”
In this regard, he said,sufficient powers have been delegated down the line, so officers should not shyaway from utilizing those powers responsibly.
“Ensure that both the staffand our customers are protected from the ongoing pandemic”, the CMD reiterated,”you can undertake any genuine expenditure in this regard”.
Earlier, the zonal heads,cluster heads and LBOs of both the zones thanked the CMD for his visit.
They briefed the CMD indetail about the business activities in their respective zones since theoutbreak of the pandemic.
They also apprised theChairman about the opportunities available and also suggested few measures toimprove the business under the present circumstances.
On the occasion, the CMDalso granted approval to the request put up by the zonal heads, to commissionthe ATMs – that were ready for operations – for public service.
Before leaving, the CMDalso heard the issues of few staff members, casual labourers and addressedthose on the spot.