BENGALURU: A video surfaced on Saturday showing a Kannada-speaking woman confronting a Canara Bank staff member for not speaking the local language. The deplorable incident took place in the Canara Bank branch in Chikkamagaluru. The bank staff, a Malayali, can be seen in the video looking perturbed amid the kerfuffle. It can be seen that the staff even took help from another staff member of the office to learn what the fuss was all about.
“She is here in our state and barely knows our language. Why is she working here? When I went for help, she showed weird gestures implying irritation. She didn’t help me,” said the customer who confronted the staff.
It is said that the agitated customer reached the office after money was deducted from her account without any prior notice. She went straight to the Malayalee staff who barely understood Kannada.
Soon after, a few Kannada activists too barged into the office to harangue the staff over her inability to converse in Kannada.
Meanwhile, the internet is divided over the issue, with many terming it pertinent for staff members working away from their hometowns to know the basics of the local language.
Kannada Canara Bank now a migrants' bank!
— ದಡಿಗ ಗಂಗವಾಡಿ | Ganga Dynasty (@DadigaGanga) July 4, 2025
☑️ Hindi migrants, now Malayali groupism ☑️ No Kannada service in Kannada land ☑️ Kerala claims highest literacy but runs to Karnataka for jobs
Serve in Kannada — it's our right, our money @canarabank @CBOFofficial @siddaramaiah pic.twitter.com/9QiLMKzUxd
“Public sector banks like Canara were nationalized to serve all Indians. There should not be any discrimination,” another comment that came in support of the customer.
Meanwhile, Canara Bank issued a statement reaffirming its commitment to the Kannada language and its loyal customers.
“In today’s multilingual India, our staff may come from different states — but our heart always resonates with our customers.”