MY WEIRD EXPERIENCE WITH ICICI BANK

Okay, first let me clarify, this post is purely based on my experience ( like the title explicitly says ) and is only that, implying nothing else. I felt the need to write about it, because, It felt quite weird; and, irritating ( if I may add ) - so not expected of a bank of that repute. Hopefully, they course-correct. It may not seem a big deal at first, but, it definitely is quite problematic if what happened to me happens to others too.

ICICI Bank, unlike other banks recently hiked their minimum balance to 1 lakh and made that mandatory ( else, there'd be a penalty ); earlier, it was 10000/- It is private bank too, so, I was quite hesitant in opening an account with them initially. However, in July'25, I decided to open an account with ICICI. While interacing with the bank representative, I learnt, the bank doesn't let just everyone open account with them. Naturally, with such high minimum balance requirements, only the upper class people could open account with it. So, they are 'choosy' who opens account. Then, they do a physical verification, by visiting your house - and only after the home visit, they proceed to approve your account. I have accounts in other banks, no one ever visited my house to verify. They just take the xeroxed documents for KYC. At first, all these seemed quite classy and hi-fi. Anyways, my account was opened and I decided to keep a certain amount in FD. I was not interested in daily transactions and I made it clear. I was told not to use the account for Gpay etc online payments, as the bank freezes such accounts occasionally. The bank representative did ask me to do transactions - however, I dunno what kind, as everything is online these days. I told her I had no such interest, and, thats why I was keeping my money locked in a FD. After my account opening I went home not expecting the nightmare that started, soon after.

First few days, getting my number from the database no doubt, I got hounded by several ICICI people, pushing me to buy their home loans and credit cards. I was so furious, I nearly yelled at them to stop disturbing. So much for being a classy bank. It didn't stop at that. It actually got worse. To my horror, I started getting calls from the bank representative ( the one who opened my account ), urging me to make my mother open an account with them too, or, other relatives if I could. She had learnt earlier, my mother was a pensioner, and she was very insistant that my mother should open account with them. I told her, my mother was not interested, and, neither was I. She was almost begging, saying she had certain targets to achieve and also that the bank trusted customers like me ( who apparently were well off - was it why she inspected my house? ) I was so irritated, that I stopped taking her calls. I don't like being pushed this way. ICICI bank is so selective in opening new accounts, but, they pester their already existing customers and literally force their relatives too to open accounts with them. It was rather funny. She said the bank trusted customers like me and wanted more like me --- and, I wanted to scream back at her - but, I don't trust your bank, not, after you've pestered me so much within days of opening my account. No other bank has ever done this in decades I've been with.

A month went by and I thought maybe the nightmare was over. But then, I recieved another call - from my bank representative - yeah, that one. This time maybe she gave up hope that my mother would ever open an account with them; this time, she requested me to do some deposits in my account. I was like, what? Why are you asking me to deposit some money in my account? I'll do that if and when I want. She told me, that she had requested other customers too, to deposit, so that bank can give loans - any amount will do. My head nearly blew off my head - bank requesting money as deposit so that it can give loan? And ICICI bank at that, the rich 'classy' bank? Begging money from customers. 'Pissed off' is too mild a word to describe what I felt. Here was a bank who is so choosy in opening accounts, doesn't let random people open account with them - yet, they keep begging for money from the existing customers. These incidents have made me very wary about the bank, and, certainly very uncomfortable about the FDs I already have with them. I have not yet recieved any interest in those FD's and here they are already asking me to deposit more. Like what?!!!! That too, when I had clearly told them I'd not do much transactions in my account and keep only the FDs. I don't know where it goes from here. But these bank representatives have surely made me look at the bank suspiciously with their behaviour. ICICI Bank you are not looking as promising anymore! Your representatives are desperate for targets, not healthy!




( Images - Google )