Banking by design. Architectural Tales of India's Banking Bastions

Embark with me on a journey through the bustling streets of Bangalore and Mangalore, where the facades of financial fortresses tell tales of contrast and character. This isn't just a tale of my recent visits to various bank headquarters; it's a story of how architecture and design whisper the silent yet potent language of brand identity.

Let's start with the public sector banks, where time seems to have paused, holding on to the charm of yesteryears. Public sector banks have this - no frill, sedate & dull almost to the point of boring you to death types of receptions. One (Canara Bank) resembled a check-in counter at the airport, complete with uniformed staff manning a X-ray baggage checking machine next to the receptionist. Another (Vijaya Bank) had large showcases of what appeared to be several large trophies & awards around its reception area. I don’t know where & how they won so many but it certainly reminded me of my school & college receptions. Corporation Bank had this wooden box like reception area that resembled a ticketing counter of a 70 era cinema theater.

In stark contrast, the private sector banks were like stepping into the future. ING Vysya's entrance boasted revolving glass doors that ushered me into a world where art and commerce met—a giant steel sculpture hanging like a modern chandelier, a testament to the bank's sophistication and contemporary vision.

Essentially the style and substance in presentation speaks a lot of the banks, and it seems only the private sector banks used it as a calling card and a sophisticated way of differentiating from peers. Given the bad reputation and some stigma facing the industry it made a lot of sense for banks to trade goodwill and reputations through their corporate front offices.

Years back when I was working with ICICI Bank I used to marvel at its BKC headquarters, a place for our frequent visits and meetings. It appeared as jewel-de-paragon on the Bandra-kurla complex which during the initial years of its completion stood out against the monolithic blocks of concrete buildings as one entered the complex from Bandra side. I couldn’t differentiate these buildings from the fort (some called it residence named Matoshree) of the rabble rouser politician Bal Thackeray) who lived on the other side of the road. Several other organizations sprung around ICICI Bank later each trying to outdo the other in architectural splendor.

Magnificent as was it from outside contrast the reception where loud and bawdy Marathi speaking manoos’es who many a times doubled up as security and receptionists undid most of sophistication that Kamath had tried to portray as a dynamic universal Bank.

Years later, I found myself at Centurion Bank of Punjab in Mahalakshmi, where an old mill had been transformed into a corporate haven. Staying in Belvedre Court and walking to the office next door was the envy of my colleagues who knew a thing or two about Mumbai commuting. While on the exterior, the building exuded some charm of a heritage building the interiors were all glass and gloss. There was one small glitch though, a secretarial college rubbed shoulders with CBoP as its neighbor in the same complex.

Finally to understand how size can be one’s own undoing one can visit the head offices of NABARD in Mumbai. You will be reminded of how it would have been like while being swallowed by a 10000 pound dinosaur.