SBI Mangalore grows vegetables for customers

A State Bank of India branch in Mangalore has taken to an unconventional and “green” method of engaging with customers.

At the SBI's ‘Bunder' branch in the city, account holders, many of whom are agriculturists with poultry farms, give manure to the bank, which, in turn, grows vegetables on its premises and gifts them to customers.

While the bank's premises are green, the bank is perceived as a more personalised place.

The manure that customers provide include the nutrient-rich ‘koli gobra' (poultry output) that retails in the city at Rs 10 a kg. “Five to six customers give us manure and in return, we give them vegetables, all grown organically. Enthused by the exchange of manure and vegetables, there has been a good response from customers,” said Mr C.M.Tallur, Assistant General Manager (AGM), SBI Mangalore.

Mr Krishna Marla, a “layer” egg poultry farmer in Mangalore, who has 15,000 birds, said that he had given four bags of poultry manure last year to the bank after seeing the greenery around it. He says that it is an entirely personal relationship.

“It is not a bribe and has nothing to do with my loans. In fact, as the Port Road (SBI) branch is now congested, I find it difficult to drive and park there, and have changed to another branch,” he said. About a month ago, Mr Marla and his wife visited the bank and returned with tomatoes grown around the bank.

Mr Marla has banked with SBI for 33 years. Every 10-12 days, the vegetables are picked with a maximum of 15 kg in one picking, said Mr Talluri. The area around the bank has short-term crops such as green, leafy vegetables and long-yield ones, much like investing money that bear fruit in the short and long term.

Other than customers, staff members also take the bank's produce. Ms Geetha Rani, a senior official in the bank, said that she appreciated the involvement of the bank officials in such green initiatives. She said medicinal herbs from the bank's gardens are much valued.

At a programme some months ago, the chief guest at a programme organised by the SBI was given, not the conventional box sweets, but a basket of vegetables. When former Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Dakshina Kannada district, Mr V. Ponnuraj left the city, a similar green basket was gifted at his farewell, said Mr Tallur.

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