Signature Confusion

Lot of news items nowadays from India about Pranab Mukherjee’s signature not matching in two different documents. I am not going to go into that.

I am talking about how banks in India reject a check for not exactly matching with the original signature given to the bank when that person opened the account. He/She may have opened that account many years ago. Therefore, a slight variation over the years is very much possible.

I know banks want the signatures to match exactly so that they are assured that it is YOU who have signed your own check and not someone else.

Here is a funny incident that happened a few years ago.

My brother and his family were living in New Delhi. Safdarjang Enclave. We were visiting India and stayed in New Delhi. My brother wanted to cash a check and he asked me to come with him to the bank. I went with him. Apparently, the bank manager (also a Tamil guy) knows my brother very well. The following conversation took place when he wanted to cash his check.

Ennappa Rajendra, soukyama? (How are you Rajendra, Are you ok?)

Hmm

Appa soukyama? Ippa udambu thevalama? (How is your dad? Is he OK now healthwise?)

Hmm

Anna Americavulendhu vararnu sonniyay. Vandhootara? (You said your elder brother is coming from America. Did he arrive?)

Vandhootar. Ivardhan en anna. (Yes, he has arrived. He (pointing to me) is my elder brother).

My brother gave his check for cashing. The bank manager checked his signature with the original given sometime ago. And then he said:

Rajendra, signature tally aagala. Innoru thadava sign pannu. (Rajendra, your signature does not match. Please sign one more time.)

My brother signed and he got the cash.

I was thinking to myself. Signature tallying is to make sure someone do not forge the signature of someone else and get cash. Here the bank manager knows my brother very well, knows what is happening in his family (like father not keeping good health, elder brother visiting from America). My brother himself is presenting in person the check to the bank manager. Still he does not trust my brother's signature and wanted him to sign again.

I give up.