One of my friend transferred some cash from US to my SBI savings a/c, home branched at my native place. As far as i remember, this account was opened long back in 2000. I generally dont use this account but still keep it live with minimum balance and very recently my car loan from SBI(though from different branch) is linked to this savings a/c.
I inturn got into a situation to transfer this balance to one of my friends SBI savings a/c, home branched at Madhapur, Hyd. I issued a cheque favouring my friend savings a/c. The cheque was promptly rejected at the tellers counter stating that the cheque was not a multicity cheque and thus cant be deposited to the account. Firstly, as my savings a/c was opened longback, when i didn't even know the importance of cheque, i didnt know the concept of multicity or local cheque. I never thought of it till this incident.
Next day, i took my identity proofs, passbooks, cheque book etc and visited the madhapur branch again to workout a workaround. There were 3 teller counters.
My friend: Madam! This cheque is from SBI itself. Why cant we deposit the same banks cheque into my account in this branch?
Teller 1: Let me see the cheque? Hmm..see its not a multicity cheque. We cant accept this.
My friend: But its from SBI itself right? Then whats the problem?
Teller: See. Though its from SBI, its not a multicity cheque.
My friend: So?
Teller: So...we can't deposit to the account!! (With a broad smile)
My friend: So, my friends SBI cheque from other location can't be deposited in my account home branched here.
Teller: Yes. If it had been a multicity, we could have done it.
My friend: Lets say, one of my friend from chennai give me a HDFC cheque? What will you do?
Teller: Its a non-local cheque and so we send it for collection. It will get encashed in 2-3 days.
My friend: Then this sbi cheque, though not multicity, why cant you send for collection?
Teller: No sir! we dont accept other locations SBI cheques at all.
My friend: You accept other banks cheques of different locations and send them for collection. But don't accept sbi cheques of different locations?
Teller: Yes sir.
My friend: Why cant you send SBI cheques also for collections like other bank cheques?
Teller: No sir, we dont send other locations SBI cheques for collections.
Myself: Wow! Thats a very good option madam! (Hope they got my sarcacism. And everyone in the queue behind me laughed at this stupid process.)
Isn't this ridiculous? or you call it funny. What ever. SBI accepts cheques of different banks located at different locations(and send them for collection) but not from its own bank of different locations. How stupid!!!
I wonder how these stupid policies are made in first hand? and then get approved from those so-called-white-collared stupid people who decides on things sitting in an air conditioned room sipping cup after cup of coffee!!
