Kochi: The State Bank of India is reversing its ‘blade’operations against the victims of the flood who have been given Rs 10,000 as aid by the government.
The SBI was deducting various charges from the accounts of those who failed to maintain minimum balance, but as per the government orders it has spared the flood victims.
There are complaints that despite the strict warning of district collectors, banks were deducting ATM charge, SMS charge and fine for non-compliance of minimum account balance.
However, the SBI has started reversing the penalty once the account holder takes up the issue.
On Monday, an account holder of SBI, Puthanvelikara, complained that '200 was deducted from the relief assistance. Though the staff told her that they were helpless since it was automatically debited, the amount was later reversed to the account by the branch manager.
“Since it is a centralised automatic system, the deduction of service charges cannot be managed at branch level. When cash is credited to an account which does not comply with the minimum balance norm, the charges will be automatically debited. ...
However, as per the government order, we are reversing the penalty,” said an official with the SBI, Puthanvelikara.
But, most of the beneficiaries might not be aware of such deduction and will lose money if the matter is not taken up with the bank.
“As per the collector’s instruction, we will be reversing the automatic deduction even if a complaint is not raised by the account holder,” added the official.
District collector Muhammad Y. Safirulla told DC that banks had been told not to withhold the victims’ money.
