Normal banking operations across the state were disrupted by the All-India strike called by nine bank unions to press for various demands pertaining to the industry.
Branches of all public sectors, foreign and private banks, including their ATMs, remained closed throughout the day.
People from the state were seriously inconvenienced due to the shutdown of the ATMs following the one-day strike. Their demands include wage revision and accountability of top executives in view of mounting bad loans.
The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), an umbrella body of nine unions called the strike to protest the government's "anti-people banking reforms" and demanded compensation for employees for extra work carried out by the employees following demonetisation. Bank employees and officers in all public sector banks, all old-generation private banks, foreign banks, Regional Rural Banks and Cooperative Banks observed the strike.
Unions are also opposed to the proposed labour reforms of the government and outsourcing of permanent jobs in the banking sector. UFBU also requested the government for cost reimbursement of demonetisation to banks.
People in various parts of the state faced problems as majority of the ATMs were closed. Though, some of the ATMs situated near various hospitals remained functional.
Functioning of the most of the public sector banks including State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank and Bank of Baroda was affected. However, the services of private banks remained unaffected but there was a slight delay in cheque clearances.
However, employees of the I-T departments of some banks participating in the strike have been granted exemption from the strike, therefore the online banking operations were expected to function as normal.