- Crisis In Indian Banking Leads to Work Pressure and Driving Employees To Despair, Commit Extreme Steps
- Toxic work culture on the rise in banks
- 5DaysBanking: Bankers Urgently Demand 2 Days Off Per Week
- Banks see over 15% growth in new credit card addition: RBI data
- Banks Transfer ₹37,176 Crore to RBI’s Depositor Education and Awareness Fund in Last 3 Years
- Calls for Bankers’ Safety Amplified After Video of SBI Branch Manager Attack Goes Viral
- Nainital Bank Faces Privatisation Move Amid Staff Protests
- Whistleblowers Expose Nexus Operating from Three Banks
- Preserving RRBs: AIRRBEA Defends Rural Banking Against AIBOC-AIBEA Merger Proposals
- Union Bank of India’s new directive for weekend work at Retail Loan Points (RLPs) has sparked outrage among bankers
UCO Bank’s Weekend SNGPA Drive Highlights Staff Shortage and Workload Pressures
Repeated weekend work without breaks is taking a toll on bankers’ well-being, raising concerns about exploitation and unsustainable workloads.
Author: Neha Bodke
Published: 4 hours ago
UCO Bank officers in Pune Zone have been officially assigned to work over the upcoming weekend on April 26 and 27, for a field-level review of KCC SNGPA (Kisan Credit Card Significant Non-Performing Assets) accounts.
As per circular number ZO/PUNE/CRMON/39/2024-25, dated April 23, 2025, five Zonal Office staff have been deputed to monitor progress in selected branches as part of a focused rectification campaign for agri-loans under the Kisan Credit Card scheme. Officers are expected to coordinate with branch managers, verify the status of overdue accounts, and submit field visit reports by April 28.
Deputation Details
This isn’t the first instance of weekend work in public sector banks—but it is drawing attention because it comes during a period when officers are already stretched thin. April is the month of annual closing audits, review meetings, and compliance deadlines.
Image: UCO Bank's April 23 circular assigning officers to weekend field visits for SNGPA rectification.
Voices From the Ground
Bank employees have expressed growing frustration over being repeatedly assigned work beyond standard hours and holidays. The most echoed concern: staff shortage.
One widely circulated social media post reads:
“Hey @UCOBankOfficial, I really fail to understand the reason behind calling employees on weekends in April too. If the work cannot be completed on weekdays, the reason must be shortage of staff. Recruit, not exploit.”
Image: Tweets from different bankers against the weekend work circular.
An officer shared with Kanal, “We have worked on weekends before too, especially last year and toward the financial year-end. But this is not sustainable. We need rest now.”
“There’s no meaning in exploiting bankers like this. If we don’t get breaks, how are we expected to keep delivering?” the officer added. “This constant pattern of weekend work without relief is unhealthy.”
After internal discussions, the officers conveyed their concerns to the zonal management. “We had a talk with the management. They understood our point and allowed us to take back the notice. We won’t be working this weekend,” the officer confirmed.
A Structural Issue
SNGPA accounts are critical—they indicate early stress in loan repayment, and timely correction can prevent accounts from turning into NPAs. But officers argue that recovery goals should be backed by adequate manpower, not additional hours.
No Bonus, No Off-Day Compensation
According to the bankers, “There’s no indication of compensatory offs or incentives for this weekend work. Officers will travel across districts and compile compliance reports, without any relief days allotted afterward.”
Systemic Challenge, Not Individual Failure
The push for weekend rectification is a symptom of a larger issue: growing responsibility without matching recruitment. Officers aren't protesting the work—they're protesting the load.
No comments yet.