SBI to Start Kannada Language Classes for Non-Kannada Speaking Staff

Recently, a female manager working in SBI has been transferred for not speaking Kannada Language in Karnataka. The issue got highlighted as the video went viral on social media and Karnataka Chief Minister had to intervene. Now, the State Bank of India (SBI) has announced that it will begin Kannada learning classes for its employees and officers who do not possess working knowledge of the regional language.

According to an internal communication from the bank, a significant number of staff across the Karnataka circle are currently unable to communicate effectively in Kannada, leading to service gaps and dissatisfaction among local customers.

Weekly Kannada Classes to Begin from May 28

To address this, SBI’s competent authority has decided to organize Kannada language training through weekly online classes, starting May 28, 2025. The initiative will be carried out by three SBI Learning & Development Centres—SBILDs (State Bank Institute of Learning and Development)—located in Jakkur, Dharwad, and Mysuru.

The classes will be held once a week, every Wednesday, for 60 minutes and will continue for a period of six months.

SBI Says Kannada Knowledge Will Improve Customer Satisfaction

The circular issued by the bank mentions that learning Kannada will not only help the staff understand customer needs better but also reduce complaints significantly. “The knowledge of Kannada will go a long way in improving customer service and customer satisfaction,” it stated.

Region-wise Allocation for Language Training

The bank has divided its areas of operation in Karnataka among the three SBILDs for smooth execution of the training:

• SBILD Mysuru will handle employees from Mangaluru and Mysuru Administrative Offices (AOs).
• SBILD Dharwad will train staff from Hubballi, Ballari, and Kalaburagi AOs.
• SBILD Jakkur will take care of employees from Bengaluru South and North AOs.

All SBILDs have been asked to share class links with Manager HRs and Chief Manager HRs, ensuring participation from all relevant staff. They have also been instructed to coordinate the classes efficiently and upload the training content on the Circle’s official site for future reference.

SBI Moves After Language Sensitivity Becomes National Issue

The bank’s decision comes at a time when language sensitivity has become a growing concern, especially in multilingual states like Karnataka. This step is expected to help bridge the communication gap between bank staff and local customers, making service delivery more inclusive and efficient.

The move has been welcomed by many, especially in the backdrop of recent public incidents involving language disputes at bank branches in Karnataka. With this initiative, SBI is setting an example for other institutions operating in linguistically diverse regions.