A video of a Canara Bank branch in Karnataka’s Chikkamagaluru has gone viral and reignited a debate on the role of local language. The video shows a Kannada-speaking woman confronting a bank staffer who she claims was unable to assist her in Kannada. The staff member, reportedly Malayalam-speaking, is questioned for not understanding the local language. “Why is she here if she can’t understand Kannada?” the woman can be heard asking in the video, while the branch manager is seen conversing with another official in Malayalam. The incident reportedly occurred after money was deducted from the woman’s account without prior notification.

“She wasn’t even cordial with me,” the woman is heard saying in Kannada. “When I tried asking, she started making weird faces,” she added. The bank official, attempting to defuse the situation, responded, “You were not cordial either.”

The clip gained traction online and generated divided reactions from netizens. Some social media users accused the woman of attempting to go viral by escalating a minor misunderstanding. One comment read, “Someone is already assisting her in Kannada. What’s the problem then?”

However, several users came out in support of the customer, arguing that public-facing staff in Karnataka should be fluent in Kannada. “Public sector banks like Canara were nationalised to serve all Indians, not just a few,” one post stated. Others questioned why local candidates aren’t being prioritised for jobs in the state.

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In response, Canara Bank issued a statement on its official X handle and reaffirmed its commitment to Kannada and its customer base in Karnataka. “Kannada is our foundation, your support is our strength. For Canara Bank, Karnataka is not just a state — it is our birthplace, the very first foundation of our journey that began over a hundred years ago. Kannada is not merely a language to us — it is a feeling, a pride…We are committed to providing services in the local language at every branch in the state,” it said.

The bank further said, “In today’s multilingual India, our staff may come from different states — but our heart always resonates with our customers. We have always been at the forefront of giving Kannada its rightful place in service and connection.”