Why do robbers choose Sonali Bank?

Sonali Bank Limited, one of the largest banks of the country, has been playing a significant role in the banking sector since its inception in 1972. Apart from serving the clients with more than 1200 branches around the country, this bank also works as an agent of Bangladesh Bank. However, it is an alarming issue that Sonali Bank is being robbed frequently. Robbery in this bank is so frequent that people may lose faith in its slogan "Your Trusted Partner in Innovative Banking". Why Sonali Bank is being attacked by robbers so frequently? The probable causes are lack of internal control, too many rural branches, predictable interior design of branches, shared buildings and repeated victimisation profile.
Major internal control includes strong cash vault, CC camera inside the vault, security guards around the branch etc. In the case of Kishorganj branch, all of the robbed money, Tk 160 million, was kept outside the secured cash vault. Usage of CC camera inside the vault was not mandatory and Bangladesh Bank issued a circular making it mandatory after the Kishorganj robbery case.  Most of the security guards stand in front of the main entrance of the branch, leaving the surrounding areas vulnerable.
Rural branches are more exposed to the threat of robbery than the urban branches. As law enforcers have less coverage in rural areas, robbers can escape easily, transport the robbed money and hide themselves. Predictable interior design is another weakness. Branches have a predictable design that features the cash vault behind the cash counter. As a result, robbers can accurately make plan to reach the vault.
Repeated victimisation profile, a measure of how quickly a crime victim will suffer a repeat of the original crime, can explain the frequent scams of Sonali Bank. One study carried out by the UK Home Office found that in England, one third of banks at which an incident of robbery has occurred will be robbed again within three months. In case of Bangladesh, most of the recent bank scandals are with Sonali Bank like Hallmark fraud, Tk 160 million robbery in Kishoregonj, Tk 3.2 million robbery in Bogra etc. Shared building is another risk factor. Branches have less security control in shared buildings compared to those of fully owned buildings. Sonali Bank authority should consider all of the risk factors and make effective policy that will prevent robbery and retain people's trust in banks.

Md Mosarraf Hossain
Audit Assistant
Hoda Vasi Chowdhury & Co
Kazi Nazrul Islam
Avenue, Dhaka