Strike affects bank operations partially

​New Delhi: Nation-wide strike on Friday by a union of public sector bank officers, demanding immediate wage revision, partially impacted banking operations across the country. Many branches in different parts of the country wore deserted look, while at many places’ shutters were down, according to reports coming from different parts of the country. 

Services like deposit and withdrawal at branches, cheque clearances and issuance of drafts and other instruments were affected. However, private sector banks like ICICI and HDFC Bank continued their usual operations. Most of the banks had already informed their customers about the one-day strike, called by AIBOC, and its impact on their normal banking operations. 

The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), an umbrella body of the nine bank unions, has also decided to observe strike on December 26. Taking into account these two days of unions' strike and other holidays, banks will be closed for most of the extended Christmas weekend. 

So, most branches will be open only for a day between this Friday and next Wednesday. Till December 26, there are three holidays -- fourth Saturday on December 22, then Sunday and then Christmas on Tuesday. All India Bank Officers' Confederation (AIBOC), also wants that the government should stop proposed merger of Bank of Baroda, Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank and consolidation of regional rural banks.