Lets take you through a Banker’s day at work.Do you think being a banker is just another government job? It’s not. It’s a daily examination — an ongoing challenge filled with responsibilities, expectations, and unseen emotional labor. The glamorous image many associate with a banker’s life is a far cry from the reality behind those glass doors. Let me give you a glimpse — a day in the life of a banker. From the outside, you may see comfort, luxury, and stability. But step inside, and you’ll find a world of constant pressure, decision-making, and emotional turmoil.
5:00 AM — The Day Begins with Stress :
I woke up at 5:00 AM today, even though I had set my alarm for 7:00. Why so early? Probably because of the mental weight I carry. Today, I have to process an education loan for a student whose college admission depends on my approval. I also need to visit the home of a borrower who’s defaulting on their EMI and has stopped answering my calls. Then there’s the district collector’s meeting with all the bankers in the evening — where I must defend myself against mostly false complaints.And let’s not forget the local politician pressuring me to approve a loan for his nephew — someone who is neither eligible for the loan nor willing to repay it. After spending the entire day on fieldwork, I’ll have to explain to my superiors why I couldn’t meet my daily targets and provide justification for every task I couldn’t complete. So no, I’m not resting at home at 5:00 AM. I’m lying in bed, running through a checklist of responsibilities and failures. This isn’t just my story — it’s the story of every banker who appears to be “relaxed” but is constantly burdened by responsibility.
A Customer’s Viewpoint vs. Reality
Take Mr. Sharma, a long-time customer of our branch. Today, he needed urgent funds and came in to break his fixed deposit. He went straight to the branch manager’s cabin. But the manager was on his phone, pulling up a CIBIL report for another customer — a man in desperate need of a personal loan for his wife’s medical treatment. The manager politely asked Mr. Sharma to wait. While waiting, Mr. Sharma grew irritated. “This guy is playing on his phone,” he thought. “Typical government employee — getting paid to sit around doing nothing.” By the time his turn came, he had already concluded that bankers don’t care about their customers. Was Mr. Sharma wrong? Not exactly. Was the manager wrong? Also no. Both acted based on their perspectives — but this everyday misunderstanding feeds a damaging stereotype. Many people believe bankers are laid-back government workers who sit in air-conditioned offices, ignoring rules and reality.
But if you’ve ever had to deal with any other government department, you know how difficult it can be to get things done, even with bribes. In contrast, banks work by the book — yet we get blamed for the smallest delays. A five-minute lunch break by a cashier? Complaint time. And yet, you think our lives are easy? If bankers lived in the fairytale world you imagine, why would news of banker suicides be so common?
The Real Life of a Banker
Is banking a dream job? No.
Is it a life so stressful it leads to suicide? Also no.
The truth lies in between. A banker’s life is full of purpose — but it’s also plagued by a lack of time, staff, resources, and, often, empathy from both sides. We face constant pressure without the emotional support needed to deal with the gravity of our responsibilities.
Let me tell you a true story:
A branch manager once received tragic news. One of his customers, Mr. Ramesh (name changed), died in a road accident along with his wife and 18-year-old daughter. He had a home loan of ₹10 lakh. Only his elderly parents (aged 75), a 16-year-old daughter, and a 14-year-old son survived.
Month-end was approaching, and the EMI was due. The manager couldn’t bear to ask the grieving family for payment. Instead, he paid the EMI himself. Over the next five to six months, he continued to cover the payments — sometimes with help from friends.
Eventually, he filed a claim for the insurance Mr. Ramesh had taken under government schemes. A total of ₹4 lakh was approved. The bank, moved by the situation, gave ₹3 lakh to the family and used the remaining ₹1 lakh to close part of the loan. The remaining ₹9 lakh was absorbed by the bank as a goodwill gesture, relieving the family of any further burden.
They didn’t stop there. The bank also sanctioned an education loan for Ramesh’s younger daughter. Even after five years, the manager remains in touch with the family, guiding the children and offering support.
That kind of fulfillment — that sense of purpose — is what keeps many of us going. Every day, we become part of a story where someone’s life gets just a little bit easier because of us. Unfortunately, the public never hears those stories. What they do hear is: “The manager was just scrolling on his phone.”
Why I Wrote This
This article is not written to seek sympathy. Its purpose is to show you the reality behind the counters. I hope this glimpse into a banker’s day at work has given you a new perspective — beyond the air-conditioning, beyond the screens, into the human side of banking.