In Noida, a customer found that ₹5 lakh in cash stored in a bank locker had been eaten by termites. This surprising discovery happened when the customer opened the locker at Citizen Cooperative Bank in Sector 51 after about three months.
When he saw the damaged notes, he immediately complained to the bank, asking for his money back. However, the bank refused, saying that cash should not be kept in lockers since customers can use their accounts for that purpose. The unhappy customer has now reported the issue to senior bank officials.
The locker contained ₹5 lakh in cash and some jewelry. When the customer checked it after three months, he found that ₹2 lakh had been completely eaten by termites. The remaining ₹3 lakh was damaged and could not be used. He requested the bank to refund the ₹2 lakh and exchange the damaged notes.
After learning about the termite problem, the bank manager contacted all locker holders, urging them to check their own lockers. This led to many customers visiting the bank to inspect their belongings.
Customers have expressed concerns about the bank’s security measures, noting that the bank charges between ₹2,000 and ₹12,000 for locker rentals. They believe the bank should ensure the safety of items stored in lockers and conduct regular termite treatments at least twice a year.
The affected customer accused the bank of being careless, claiming they did not perform proper termite treatment. Bank manager Alok Kumar admitted that dampness in the bank’s walls contributed to the termite issue but stated that other lockers were not affected.
Senior manager Indu Jaiswal explained that lockers are meant for important documents, property papers, jewelry, and other valuable items, but not for cash. She emphasized that storing money in lockers goes against RBI guidelines and that customers would need to prove that any cash kept there is legitimate.