“Business in Trillions, But No Hands to Work”: Office Assistants of Uttar Pradesh Gramin Bank Express Concern Over Staff Shortage

According to staff figures, UPGB has over 19,000 employees in total, but only 6,193 Office Assistants — with more than 1,000 posts lying vacant even after the latest IBPS recruitment notification.

One Office Assistant posted at a Category ‘C’ branch handling ₹20–50 crore business told Kanal, “I am the only Office Assistant in my branch, though two are required. Apart from cash collection, passbook printing, KYC, account opening, and recovery work, we are also given fresh targets like opening Recurring Deposit accounts. The pressure is unending.”

When Staff Shortages Hurt Families

Another employee narrated a deeply personal ordeal: “My wife was admitted in the hospital, yet my leave was denied and I was compelled to report to duty. This shortage is not only exhausting us but also robbing us of our basic family responsibilities.”

Struggling to Compete with Commercial Banks

In a Category ‘B’ branch managing ₹14 crore business, an Office Assistant said he is left to discharge nearly all responsibilities alone.

“There are three officers, but as the only cashier, I handle everything. We are constantly compared with commercial banks, but without staff, the pressure is crushing our efficiency and affecting customer service.”

Staff say the shortage is not just about numbers but about the sheer range of duties funneled onto their desks. “Our responsibilities are endless — clerical work, KYC and Re-KYC, data entry, cheque clearance, CIBIL reports, loan recovery, audit support, even feeding pensioners’ life certificates. Nearly every function, from cash management to compliance, comes to our desk. With thousands of vacancies, the workload on a limited staff is crushing, raising serious concerns about efficiency, accuracy, and even our well-being,” said one Office Assistant.

Image: Duties and Responsibilities of Office Assistants

Last year, a constituent of the amalgamated UPGB, Baroda UP Gramin Bank surpassed ₹1 lakh crore (₹1 Trillion) business becoming the first Regional Rural Bank in India to reach this milestone. 

The voices from UPGB highlight a stark contradiction: the bank’s business has crossed trillions, yet staff strength lags far behind. For Office Assistants, this translates into relentless workloads, denial of leave, and growing stress.