62-Year-Old Woman Dies Outside Bank in Zhuzhou Sparking Public Outrage

Peng, a 62-year-old woman suffering from diabetes and recovering from a leg fracture, died outside the Agricultural Bank of China's Tianxin branch in Zhuzhou, Hunan, after being forced to withdraw funds in person despite her poor health. After her daughter failed multiple password attempts, bank staff insisted Peng appear physically for identity verification, including face recognition, which she could not complete due to her condition. Despite warnings about her frailty, the bank refused to offer exceptions, and after an hour-long ordeal, Peng collapsed and died; local police attributed her death to a sudden illness outbreak. The incident sparked widespread public outrage over the bank's rigid policies and lack of compassion, with social media users criticizing the prioritization of rules over human lives and demanding more flexible procedures for vulnerable clients. The bank has agreed to compensate Peng's family with 100,000 yuan for funeral expenses but has faced criticism for withholding surveillance footage and the perceived inflexibility of its verification protocols. Authorities are investigating the case, and experts have called for more compassionate exceptions in banking regulations to prevent similar tragedies.