2 Day Bank Strike From Today. Salary Withdrawal and ATM Services May Get Hit

Banks, including State Bank of India (SBI), Punjab National Bank (PNB) and Bank of Baroda (BoB), have already informed their customers that functioning of branches and offices will be impacted if the strike takes off. However, the functioning of private banks like ICICI, HDFC, Axis and Kotak Mahindra is expected to be normal except for delays in cheque clearance. Withdrawal and cash deposit in the branches of public sector banks would be affected.
"We urge our customers to make the maximum use of digital banking services like UPI, MahaMobile app, internet banking facilities for their transactions. We have ensured that our digital banking systems and ATMs (for those who need cash) are available at all times for the convenience of our customers," Ravindra P Marathe, MD of Bank of Maharashtra, was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

There are as many as 21 public sector banks that control 75 per cent of the total business in the country.

On May 5, the Indian Banks' Association offered 2 per cent hike which was rejected by unions calling it unjust. The Association refused to revise wages for all officers citing poor financial condition of banks. Large public sector banks had reported huge losses in the fourth quarter of the fiscal year 2018 owing to mounting bad loans.

Banking operations could be hit as employees of public sector banks go on a two-day nationwide strike starting from today.