KOCHI: The Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission here has suggested that banks should consider giving messages to customers in the local language in the face of increasing fraud in the banking sector. The proposal of the bench comprising the commission president DB Binu, members V Ramachandran and TN Sreevidya is to consider providing conditions in the account opening form, conditions for using credit-debit cards, net banking etc., SMS messages etc. in Malayalam. A copy of the judgment was also directed to be given to the Reserve Bank.

Ambika Gopi, a resident of Ernakulam's Paravur, sought compensation for the loss of Rs 45,000 from her account at SBI's Cheriyapilly branch on several occasions. The money was stolen by someone else using the ATM card of the complainant. Every time the money was withdrawn, the mobile received SMS in English, but she could not read and understand them. The complaint was filed after two months.

The commission rejected the petition, which considered that the PIN number was not kept secret and the messages were not understood and the complaint was filed in time.