also to add on, local banks back offices are not in CBD. they are in more "affordable" locations where rent is cheaper and the office is more cui. just this alone tells you that senior mgmt sees back office as cost centre. of course as a cost centre, the bonus is cui as well. and to the person who posted that at the end of the day ops is not going anywhere, I think you miss the point. yes ops is an essential function, however YOU are not, not when there are so many people out there who can do your job, since your job is just processing and checking and data entry