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Transfers, Trauma and Broken Families: The Silent Suffering in Indian Banking
Denied spousal transfers, facing frequent relocations and mental distress, many public sector banks employees are silently enduring personal losses while struggling within a flawed system.
Author: Neha Bodke
Published: 8 hours ago
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"How am I supposed to conceive if we don’t stay together?” asks a woman banker working in Delhi. Her husband is also a banker and has been denied a transfer to Delhi since their marriage in 2021. Why? Because spouse transfer grounds are ‘not applicable on men’.
This is not a standalone case. Kanal has accessed testimonies from public sector bankers who are facing immense personal suffering due to opaque, gender-biased, and arbitrary transfer policies. From forced separations, broken marriages, unplanned childlessness, to mental health breakdowns, the toll is deeply human and largely ignored.
“I joined as a PO in a bank. Got married while posted in a region from where my spouse was in a city which was 350 km away. I was told male staff don’t get spouse transfers. That altered everything,” says one officer to Kanal. After years of living apart and undergoing multiple transfers, the marriage fell apart and they took the decision of divorce.
In another case, an officer from Punjab and Sind Bank reports dozens of transfers in just 8 years in which none was for performance-related reasons. Instead, they were based on personal grudges, caste bias, or punishment for raising concerns. “This is a cruel method of harassment dressed as an administrative process,” he says to Kanal.
The reality is stark as transfers have become tools of control and retaliation rather than fair staffing mechanisms. Employees who speak up or refuse to toe the line find themselves suddenly transferred, often mid-year, mid-week, or mid-day.
Some even report being relieved over lunch and reporting to another branch by evening, without formal handover.
Most affected are:
Couples trying for children: Separation kills emotional bonding and fertility plans.
Women unable to move due to caregiving roles: Mothers with health issues, children in schools.
Employees with loans: Home loans, often pushed by the bank itself, keep them trapped in the system.
Anxiety and depression are alarmingly common. Some bankers are now under regular psychiatric counselling, though few talk about it openly due to stigma.
“Employees bear harassment because they fear transfers more. Transfers feel like punishments which are unpredictable and ruthless,” one employee confesses.
The issue was even discussed during the 44th Annual General Body Meeting (AGBM) held in Pune on June 8, 2025 by FBOIOA. Multiple speakers, both union leaders and dignitaries emphasized that transfers must not be used as a tool of punishment, harassment, or silent retaliation. They called for a humane, need-based policy that considers the employee's family life and dignity, particularly in cases involving married couples, caregiving responsibilities, and health needs. Yet, despite repeated discussions and resolutions, implementation remains elusive.
As per Bank Employees and officials need of the hour is clear:
- A gender-neutral, transparent spouse transfer policy.
- Defined criteria and timelines for transfers.
- Independent grievance redressal.
- Regular mental health support.
- End to arbitrary transfer powers by zonal or regional heads.
While performance and service requirements matter, it cannot be at the cost of family, mental health, or dignity. As one officer puts it, “We are not numbers. We are people.”
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