BERHAMPUR: At a time when bank frauds through net-banking facility and ATM are on the rise, not many people are aware of the existence of Banking Ombudsman in the district since 2006. The Ombudsman enables an expeditious and inexpensive forum to bank customers on resolving complaints relating to certain services rendered by banks. Sources said the local police decline to entertain such hi-tech crimes stating that crimes of such nature are registered in the Cyber Cell.One such victim was Bijaya Chandra Biswal of Rangunibandh street, Berhampur, who alleged that around Rs. 5,000 was stolen from his account in Andhra Bank, Berhampur branch, through ATM theft on two occasions last year. He registered a complaint against the Bank with the Banking Ombudsman, Bhubaneswar, who directed the Bank to furnish details of the two transactions and closed-circuit camera footages.In May this year, it was found that the transactions were made through a particular SBI ATM at Gandhi Park in Koraput. Andhra Bank, in its defence, stated that the password and PIN was the customer’s responsibility and Bank not responsible for the loss. On June 15, the Ombudsman notified the SBI branch to submit documents pertaining to the case and stated that it would penalise the bank if the documents were not submitted within a week.As SBI failed to submit any documents, the Ombudsman on July 30 notified the Andhra Bank that Biswal should be paid back Rs. 5,000 which was moved from his account along with the fixed deposit interest on the sum from the time of transaction till reimbursement. Further, it stated that Andhra Bank would recover the sum from SBI if it failed to submit the required documents and the footage. Earlier this month, Rs. 5,323 was reimbursed to Biswal by Andhra Bank.
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