Allen Pereira : 'Nothing is Impossible'

by Florine Roche
Daijiworld Media Network
Pics: Dayananda Kukkaje

Feb 8, 2010

He took over as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Bank of Maharashtra at a critical time when the housing bubble had created a panic in USA and its impact was felt in the global stock market, including India in late 2008 and early 2009.  Indian Banking sector is said to be built on a sturdy foundation and escaped the severe impact of global recession.  Still there was panic all around and Allen C A Pereira, the new CMD took over the reigns of the bank at this critical juncture.  It was a challenge fraught with tremendous expectations and at the end of 18 months at the helm of affairs Allen is smiling – a smile of a contented man who feels his hard work has been suitably rewarded as the bank is making rapid strides with pan India presence without compromising its responsibility of social commitment. With the bank celebrating its platinum jubilee 2009-2010 it is a matter of pride and honour for us that Mangalorean Allen is the CMD of the bank at this crucial juncture, a position he will continue to hold till 30-09-2010 or beyond that if destiny so decides.    

Bank of Maharashtra which is said to have pioneered the concept of social banking has a place of its own in Indian public sector banks and under the leadership of this high-octane leader it is further strengthening its base in the highly competitive banking field.   With fierce competition from both public and private sector banks it is only innovative approaches to banking that helps public sector banks sustain and have an edge over their rivals.

Development with Harmony

With 34 years of banking experience Allen knew it much better and he worked with single minded devotion to sustain the identity Bank of Maharashtra has carved out for itself.  And the results are there for everyone to see as the bank has embarked on a massive expansion drive with a human touch aimed at providing banking facilities to different segments of the society emphasizing on “equitable economic development with social and political harmony”. 

They say banking runs in the blood of Mangaloreans and Allen has certainly provided credence to it.  Having started his career as a Specialist Officer in Syndicate Bank in 1973 he has served the bank in various capacities. Before taking over as CMD of Bank of Maharashtra Allen Pereira was the Executive Director, Oriental Bank of Commerce.  

“We already have 1450 branches and intend to cross the 1500 mark by the end of this financial year.  We are opening up more branches in the North East in states like Meghalaya, Sikkim, Manipur and Assam.  We have gone for massive recruitment drive as we need people to facilitate the expansion plans”, he said speaking to daijiworld.   He further added:  “now we have sizeable presence in all most all the states of the country and now the focus will be to strengthen the roots of the bank.  We are therefore concentrating on interlinking of the branches through core banking solutions.  So far   86% of the bank’s business is in core banking and we want to take it to 100% very soon”.  

In a career spanning 34 years in banking service Allen has held important positions part from managerial positions in branches like Advisor for Personnel and Industrial Relations to the Indian Bank Association.  Besides this he was Secretary/Chief Executive of the Banks’ Sports Board, the policy making body in Indian Banks’ Association for promoting sports in Banks. This soft spoken man who is known to take success in his strides with aplomb,   says “I perform on day to day basis and my I feel whatever I do today should benefit not only me but largest number of people and it should be of highest standards”. 

Destiny’s Child

He says “I was destined to be the chairman though I know there were more worthy people than me.  It is an opportunity given to me by destiny or some highest power has bestowed this responsibility for me.  I am trying my best to discharge this task without fear or favour as ultimately the trust placed on me should be fulfilled.  The institution should prosper and employees should also feel they have contributed something worthwhile to the society”. 

Born in Mangalore his father late William Pereira worked in Qatar for a premium company.  His 87 year mother Brijite is staying in Kulshekar Mangalore, which often brings him to the city amidst a hectic schedule.  He joined Syndicate Bank as an officer in the Industrial Relations department and served in different branches of the bank in various capacities.  In fact he is said to be an expert in Personnel and Industrial Relations.   He volunteered to go out of the state as branch manager to a rural branch in Goa and says “my stint as Manager in Goa was highly rewarding and fecund experience of my banking career.

It was a rural branch populated by the fishing community and Allen was able to procure sizeable business for his bank.  “I was known as tough task master as far as recoveries are concerned”, he smiles. Despite that he enjoyed the boy next door image as his razor sharp memory and his aptitude to mingle with common people enabled him to know everyone in the village personally.  No function in the village was held without Allen being invited to it.  The bank and the people of the village enjoyed a close comradeship and during his 3 years period every child in the village had an account with Syndicate Bank, a rare accomplishment considering the rural nature of the bank way back in the 1970’s. 

In 1993 Allen became the Chief Manager of the Delhi branch which saw the bank’s business go up to Rs. 300 crores from Rs. 46 crores.  He was also able to procure a major World Bank project to Syndicate Bank.  Known for his persuasive skills he was selected as the Personnel Advisor of Indian Bank Association (IBA) and was chosen to represent the IBA for wage negotiations with the unions.  He is also the brain behind the Bank Olympiad (now defunct), to bank employees in the year 2002.

Social Commitment

His bank was the major sponsor of the recently held “Ekta Express – Kashmir to Kanyakumkari” show of Usha Uthup in Mangalore, which is keeping in tune with its social commitment.  “Ekta Express appealed to us as our branch covers all segments of the society from cobblers to major industrialists.  It is a bank which caters to all sections of the society irrespective of caste or creed.  As a nationalized bank we thought it proper to spread the message of unity in diversity which is the need of the hour both for sustainable and equitable economic development.  Without social and political harmony economic development is not possible”, he explains. 

Under his experienced guidance and stewardship Bank of Maharashtra has embarked on major plans that include 100 percent core banking, providing technology-based products and services, SMS-enabled banking services, introduction of payment of utility bills, reservation of rail and air ticket facility, D Mat  facility for those interested in investing in shares, E-trading facility, payment of  LIC and General Insurance premiums.  Recently Bank of Maharashtra and State Bank of India Funds Management has joined hands to distribute mutual funds of SBI through the banks branches across the country. 

To mark its platinum jubliee the bank has decided to opt for more social programmes as part of its social commitment.  As a major step the bank has decided to adopt 75 villages across Maharasthra for providing basic sanitation, health, education in addition to popularize conservation of energy and water. The bank is collaborating with local bodies, state government and NGO’s to provide the necessary impetus to this. The bank has got in touch with leaders like Anna Hazare to organize people in a bid to convert dry land into fertile crop cultivating land by harvesting rain water. The main aim is to make these villages self-reliant and in turn the bank expects them to become its customers.  In another move the bank has decided to strengthen the self help groups sponsored by it from 50,000 to 75,000 to mark the Platinum Jubilee. 

Books for company

He acknowledges that his is a high-pressure job but prefers taking it as a challenge.  “At the end if I am able to fulfill the aspirations of my customers I am prepared to go through every trouble that worth it” he admits.  There are certain diversions that help him distress that includes reading.   He also   plays violin and harmonium and likes listening to western instrumental and light numbers that includes Kenny Rogers, Don Denver and Elvis Pressley. 

His wife, a PG in Social Work specialized in Child and Family Welfare, has been his strength.   She gave up her lucrative job in KMC to devote more time to their two children during their growing days.  His son studied in Little Rock Brahmavar and was a National Talent scholar.  He did his B E from NITK and is working in Atlanta, USA.  Daughter also did her Engineering in Electronics and is employed in TCS Mumbai. 

Allen is also a philatelist and has a penchant for collecting a variety of pens.  His reading hobby has resulted in a humungous collection of books and he smilingly says “my wife often chides me that we will only have book for breakfast after retirement.  Books will certainly keep me busy as he says “reading would give me a broad outlook of life.  Books will make you feel that ultimately one should not be carried away by past success”.   Books apart he will certainly carry with him memories of his stupendous achievement as a banker with a difference, to look back upon with nostalgia. 

Allen firmly believes that Bank of Maharashtra will be able to provide high standard of quality service.  As the motto of the bank says “one family one bank”, he is confident that many generations will carry on business with his bank and the need for another bank does not arise. 

With more than 9 months to go as CMD and more if destiny wills, Allen is sure to leave an ineffaceable mark in the triumphant journey of the Bank of Maharashtra in the 75 years of its illustrious history.