Utkal Grameen Bank Issues Show Cause Notice to Officers’ Association Over Cross-Selling Boycott

In a disciplinary development, the Utkal Grameen Bank (UGB), sponsored by the State Bank of India (SBI), has issued a show cause notice to the AIRRBEA affiliated Utkal Grameen Bank Officers’ Association (UGBOA) for allegedly violating the Code of Discipline. The notice, dated November 22, 2024, accuses the association of a series of unilateral actions, including boycotting cross-selling campaigns and engaging in activities deemed disruptive to operational protocols.

The notice cites breaches such as boycotts, “go-slow” tactics, and sit-down strikes, along with coercive measures like issuing threats to members and creating an environment of duress. It further highlights a lack of consultation, failure to provide sufficient notice periods to management, and circumvention of established communication protocols.

Image: The Show Cause Notice by the Utkal Grameen Bank management letter to Officers Association

In the past few days, the cross-selling pressure has surfaced in 13 SBI sponsored RRBs including Saurashtra Gramin Bank, Andhra Pradesh Grameena Vikas Bank, Utkal Grameen Bank, etc.

Association’s Stand on Cross-selling

The show cause notice follows the UGBOA’s written appeal, in which it announced its decision to boycott the management’s cross-selling campaigns. The association had raised concerns over the increasing pressure on staff to achieve sales targets for third-party products such as insurance, terming it an unnecessary burden on employees.

A UGBOA member told Kanal, “The show cause notice stems from the association’s decision to boycott the value-added services campaign that started on November 4, 2024. These so-called value-added services are essentially cross-selling third-party products (TPPs). Such initiatives, like the Insurance Premier League (IPL), prioritise cross-selling over UGB’s core banking operations and its commitment to social banking.”

In the recent past, UGBOA expressed its resentment against the cross-selling of third-party products like SBI Life and SBI Mutual Fund. The association conveyed their dissatisfaction in a formal letter to the bank’s Chairman, marking a significant act of resistance against the increasing push for third-party product sales.

Image: Letter by the Utkal Grameen Bank Officers Association on boycotting cross selling campaign

The brewing tension between UGB management and the association underscores the broader debate on cross-selling in RRBs. While management insists on aligning with commercial objectives, associations often argue that these initiatives compromise the social mission of RRBs.