An Extra Story of Ordinaries

Audit, in many ways, is a yajna for modern-day banking corporates.

In SBI, we call this yajna RFIA — Risk Focused Internal Audit.

We were aware that our outfit was due for RFIA and that the auditor’s call could come any day. On Friday, 6th December, we received the intimation that the audit would commence from Monday, the 8th.

The outfit I refer to here is a RACPC, or as per the newly coined nomenclature, HLC - Home Loan Centre , specialized for Home Loans sanctions and maintainence . 

The unit had earlier undergone one RFIA and had earned an AA rating. Since then, however, significant changes had taken place. The unit had grown to over ₹500 crore in asset size, handling more than 5,000 files.

The Arrival

As expected, Shri JPK, our RFIA auditor, arrived sharply at 9:30 AM on 8th December 2025. We greeted him, and he acknowledged the same with a smile that reflected his cool and composed personality. He came across as a true gentleman—reserved, focused, and deeply committed to the task assigned.

In the introductory meeting, he clearly outlined his mission. A schedule mentioning only man-days was shared—an unmistakable signal that a great deal had to be accomplished within a compact timeline, alongside our routine operational work.

The Team — The Real Strength

The most critical element in excelling at any task is the team—and this story is primarily about them.

Our RACPC/HLC was being led by Smt. Amrita Roy, the current In-charge. Like anyone in such a role, it is natural to experience stress when one’s work is subjected to intense scrutiny across multiple parameters. Yet, for our captain, stress appeared to be fuel—not a burden. She remained firmly in control, radiating positivity, energy, synergy, and resilience throughout the audit period.

Shri Vivek Rajak, Manager (Sanction), lived up to the meaning of his name—alert, conscious, and fully in command of his responsibilities. Despite a daily commute of 1.5 hours one way, he stood his ground like a true commandant, ensuring his platoon stayed focused and victorious.

Shri Partha Bhattacharya, a very senior officer on the verge of retirement and in charge of processing-related assignments, was spot-on in his approach. His experience and temperament energized the team and reinforced the invaluable role that wisdom and institutional memory play.

Smt. Shwetalina Ganguly, our Jhansi ki Rani Lakshmibai-like warrior, handled processing duties with exceptional grit. A single mother and a dedicated officer, she excelled in both her responsibilities. A true Karmayogi, she stayed with the team till 10:30 PM night after night, doing whatever the task demanded.

Priyanka and Tania were consistently supportive, complementing the team’s efforts and stepping in wherever required—contributing silently but decisively toward our singular goal: retaining the AA rating despite massive growth and a large sample size.

The Trial

While Shri JPK impressed everyone with his gentlemanly demeanor, he commanded equal respect for his deep and uncompromising scrutiny. His attentive inspection left little room for leniency, and deviations emerged relentlessly.

By 16th December, we had produced nearly all required documents for 271 sampled accounts, along with ORM registers, vouchers, approvals, and files. Then, almost suddenly, 51 additional takeover files were added to the audit scope.

Already grappling with: a mediocre RADAR score, adverse WEBCAS deviations, space constraints,

manpower shortages, continuous 8:30–9:00 AM to 10:30 PM workdays for over ten days, this additional requirement felt like a lightning strike on an exhausted team.

Yet, as the saying goes:“Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.” “The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials.”

This became a collective trial, driven by a collective dream.

The Outcome

We recalibrated our course of action immediately. Plans were drawn, responsibilities redistributed, and the documents were prepared with renewed determination. The audit was extended by two additional days, and every added sample was presented. Despite all odds, we: produced every required file,rectified serious deviations, ensured maximum possible compliance, and did everything within our capacity with honesty and transparency.

The result:

We retained the AA rating, with slightly improved marks over the previous audit.

In his closing remarks, Shri JPK acknowledged the team’s effort, grit, and sincerity in presenting documents, facts, and data.

A Note Beyond Audit

I write this extra story of ordinary bankers to reaffirm a belief—that even today, in some corners of the country, there exist teams bound not by diktat but by shared ownership, not by instructions but by involvement, not by superficiality but by striving to become the best versions of themselves.

This RFIA success belongs to:

every Amrita Roy who leads with nectar-like leadership,every Vivek who remains conscious, alert, and foundational,

every Partha Sir who proves the enduring value of experience,every Shwetalina who fights battles like Durga,every Priyanka who quietly scripts inspiration through effort,every new joinee like Tania, who brings enthusiasm and a hunger to learn.

I feel honored to be part of such a collective—ordinary people who consistently come together to write good stories on the plane of reality.

This story would remain incomplete without expressing heartfelt gratitude to the entire set of branches and officials who extended timely support, the RBO team for their spot-on assistance, and our controllers for their guidance, supervision, and encouragement.

Some yajnas are not performed before fire—they are performed before responsibility. This was one such yajna.

- Amit kr Pandey