On Oct 25 2026, a video captured a heated exchange between a customer and a State Bank of India teller at an undisclosed branch, as the customer demanded immediate acceptance of a bundle of Rs 50 and Rs 100 notes that the cashier blamed on a lunch break.
The customer, holding about 20 notes, some visibly worn, threatened to file a complaint with the Reserve Bank of India, while the teller replied that he could bring the matter to the regulator. The teller’s response was recorded, and the customer’s frustration was visible when he began recording the dispute on his phone.
RBI’s guidelines mandate that banks accept coins and notes on working days, with no prescribed limit on the number of coins, and the central bank has reiterated that cashiers are not exempt from service obligations during office hours.
The clip has sparked a polarized debate online, with some commenters defending the teller’s need for a break and the time required to count loose cash, while others accuse the teller of denying service to legitimate currency and call for banks to provide backup staffing.
SBI responded through its official account, expressing regret over the inconvenience and requesting the customer to DM the branch name, registered mobile number, and full name for further investigation.
The next step will see RBI monitoring the branch’s compliance with cash‑handling protocols, while SBI may review staffing arrangements to prevent similar incidents.