Back in the day, this bank was a safe place to work. Now? That practice of automatically notifying managers whenever you apply for an internal role is a perfect example of why it's no longer safe.
That policy is a litmus test for the culture. In a healthy environment, it's a conversation starter for your career. But in a psychologically unsafe place like this has become, it’s a we-pon. It gives a controlling manager the power to undermine you, tank your review, or block your move entirely. It’s precisely why this is no longer a place to grow—the system actively punishes you for trying.
This is exactly why I'm so glad I got my mentees to leave before I was laid off. When the official channels for advancement are bo--y-trapped, you have to teach survival skills. The last thing I taught them was the art of quiet quitting and how to set firm boundaries. It's about creating your own psychological safety because the company's processes have made it unsafe. I hope I taught them well.