I was rather surprised to go through the news item this morning with the caption “SBI drill draws customers’ ire”.

It appears State Bank, without any advance notice ran their Disaster Recovery Drill and had to shut down its network in select locations across the country.

This resulted in customers facing difficulties in conducting transactions through Bank’s ATM network.

In some locations, it is reported that the customers were arguing with the bank’s staff. In some places they could not use SBI credit card for their purchases.

As usual, couple of thoughts occurred to me

- Such disaster recover drills cannot be run by giving advance notice. They will be run only when the ‘occasion’ arise.

- Basically all bank customers are to be served at the respective branches where they maintain their accounts.

- One cannot claim as a matter of right such unhindered and basic service at such auto teller counters.

- In the case of credit cards too, the banks can exercise their right to offer, deny or postpone extension of such credit facilities.

I wanted to remind myself these basic assumptions so that I know where I stand when I also face such unpleasant situations in future!