Friday, November 11, 2016

Demonetization effect: PSU banks to open this weekend, SBI and Canara Bank to work longer hours

IN THE aftermath of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s unprecedented announcement on November 8 demonetizing 500 and 1000 rupee notes, PSU banks are geared up to deal with the big challenge of providing cash to people and taking back such notes. State Bank of India have sent out officers from its metropolitan branches to the hinterland to meet a surge in demand for currency exchange and extended their working hours so that the transition to new currency regime is hassle-free.
SBI and Canara Bank have decided to keep their branches open till 6.00 pm on November 10, while ICICI Bank...
has said that its branches will open for 12 hours between 8.00 am and 8.00 pm on November 10 and November 11 (Friday) as part of its 10-point customer service effort. The Reserve Bank of India has ordered banks to keep their branches open on the weekend including Sunday and treat it a normal working hours. PSU banks, which for long are used to withdrawals moving to the ATMs and other modes of payment like the internet, are now bracing for a surge in customers thronging banks.
Banks would convert many of their desks into teller counters which were nearly becoming extinct as technology replaced humans in dispensing cash to customers.
Meanwhile, in an interview given to Mumbai Mirror, SBI chairperson Arundhati Bhattacharya said SBI ATMs to be filled with Rs 100 notes. When asked how SBI is preparing to handle the rush, she said, “At this point of time, we will be giving out more of 100-rupee notes. We have received some amount of notes of Rs 2,000 denomination. Wherever we have got them, they will be distributed. But notes of Rs 2,000 will be given at branches, but not ATMs. The SBI ATMs will be operational from Friday. We are doing evacuation of ATMs and then we will have to put in fresh notes and reconfigure the machines.”
She also said that the country’s largest bank doesn't have enough stock of Rs 2,000 notes. But Rs 100 notes are enough, she added.

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