Chennai: From today, banking hours in Tamilnadu has been restricted from 10 am to 2 pm in view of the rapid spike in Covid case load.
A decision to this effect was taken at the State Level Bankers’ Committee-Tamilnadu (SLBC-TN), which also came out with a series of gudielines to its member banks in the State.
From today till 30 April, banks will function with restricted timing from 10 A.M. to 2 P.M. from 26.4.2021 to 30.4.2021.
This will be reviewed after 30 April based on the prevailing covid situation.
The SLBC-TN has also suggested cluster based functioning of branches whereever possible in consultation with the local administration.
Branches which are routinely facing huge crowds, shall seek the help of police for crowd management, by taking up through the Lead District Manager.
However, there will be no change in the working hours of administrative, zonal, regional, back offices of the banks where the staff do not have direct contact with the public.
It also suggested that said staffs with co-morbidities, pregnant women, visually challenged may be given the option of work from home by the relevant authorities of the banks concerned; suspension of aadhar
enrolment centres.
It said banks should also ensure that all alternate delivery channels such as bank ATMs/cash deposit machines/Cash recyclers shall be functional and business Correspondents services should be fully functional at all times.
The banks should also encourage all their eligible staff members to avail the vaccination facility for themselves as well as for their family members.
The member banks are also requested to educate and encourage their customers to make use of alternate delivery channels and opt for digital transactions to avoid visiting branches physically.