My Experience with ICICI Bank A feed back.

I read with interest all that services your bank has provided and how ICICI Bank has updated itself with the state of art technology. However, I would like to narrate my exprience as a feed back and definitely not as a complaint. I know this is not the time to find fault but to cooperate in national interest as the implementation of demonetisation policy is on and there are lot of hurdles both man made and otherwise.  

Since the demonetisation was announced, I have not seen any ATMs operating in my area and I have visited two of ICICI Bank branches and the service I got was pathetic. I have all apprecitaion for all the  intended services but I strongly feel if some are translated into action , it would have been praiseworthy. The otherday I called on ICICI Bank branch at Bannerghatta Branch to encash my Travel Card having some dollar balances and after verifying my identity and account and having satisfied that I am the right person, prompt came the service that unless passport is presented, this cannot be encashed or credited to the account. I know banking is a risky business, but banking is also a business run on common sense, judgement and discretion assessing the risk and minimising the risk. I feel encashing and crediting the travel card to my account has no risk as envisaged and he could have asked me to send the copy of my passport  through  email. I have no grouse on this as he wanted to adhere to the rules prescribed.He is well within his right.

Then I wanted some cash for my personal expenditures and presented him a cheque and prompt came the reply that I could withdraw only Rs 2000 and that too in the same denomination, although the RBI has prescribed a withdrawal of Rs 24000 per week. He also advised me to stand in the queue having about 30 persons at that point of time. NO CONSIDERATION FOR SENIOR CITIZEN. I would also add here that since the announcement of demonetisation I do not think I have withdrawn even once through ICICI bank ATMs. I have always seen ICICI bank's  ATMS with OUT OF CASH or OUT OF SERVICE Boards.  I have withdrawn ontly from AXIS bank ATMs and they provided 2000 Re note, new 500 Re note and 100 Re notes.But withdrawal is limited to Rs 2000 at any point of time. Thrice I had taken  Rs 2000 each from Axis Bank ATM to take care of small payments to milk vendors and other retailers. Even Once I could get cash from  Lakshmi Vilas Bank ATM  which is no comparison to ICICI Bank . This is only a feed back as once in a while top brasses also should know what is the ground reality. I have been banking with ICICI bank for more than two decades ie since the inception of the bank.Technolgy is very good,but human involvement would definitely add to the service. There should be difference between Man and Machine. If both are mechanical, Customers have no choice but to turn digital at the earliest. But Senior Citizens have their own limitations. 

Dr T V Gopalakrishnan

(This is in response to the Personal Message that ICICI Bank sent to all Its Customers through email )