Banks to shorten hours, operate from 10am to 2pm; staff attendance cut to 50% Working hours (business hours) of the banks could be restricted to 10am-2pm. Doorstep banking activities should be encouraged, said Indian Banks Association
BusinessToday.In | April 23, 2021 | Updated 09:37 IST
Indian Banks Association says staff attendance must be 50%
As coronavirus cases continue to increase at a breakneck pace, banks have decided to shorten working hours and cut staff attendance to 50 per cent. The decision was taken by the Indian Banks Association in a meeting and subsequently conveyed to banks. The association observed that the infection rate among banks is alarming .
Highlights
Bank unions have written a letter to bring new SOPs to protect employees.
Around 600 bankers lost their lives due to Covid-19 in 2020.
Taking note of the pandemic, banks in Maharashtra have decided to operate from 10 AM to 2 PM to protect their employees from the second wave of Covid-19 that is gripping the nation.
All banks in Maharashtra will operate from 10 AM to 2 PM from Friday (April 23) to April 30. The decision was taken by a state-level bankers committee. However, customers will be able to access basic banking facilities such as money withdrawal and deposit.
Notably, Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) in a meeting on Wednesday has also decided to shorten bank branch hours along with cutting staff attendance by 50%. The banking industry body also communicated standard operating procedures to all the banks on how to prevent the spread of the Covid-19.
Finance ministry asks states to vaccinate banking staff on priority basis
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Finance ministry asks states to vaccinate banking staff on priority basis
PTI / Apr 22, 2021, 23:16 IST
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NEW DELHI: The finance ministry has asked state governments to treat bankers on priority basis for Covid-19 vaccination when the third phase begins from May 1.
Earlier this week, the government decided to open Covid vaccination for all adults above the age of 18 years starting May 1 with the pandemic surging to record highs and fatalities rising with each passing day.
The vaccine makers have been directed to reserve 50 per cent doses for the Centre and remaining for states and the open market.
With coronavirus infections crossing 300,000 a day, banks have decided to shorten branch hours and cut staff attendance to 50 per cent. The decision was taken by the Indian Banks’ Association in a meeting on Wednesday and the standard operating procedures have been communicated to banks in the wake of the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic while observing the infection rate among bankers is ‘alarming’. Bank branches will now work from 10 am to 2 pm, the bank body said in a communication to the lenders. The four mandatory functions that will be provided by the banks are - accepting deposits, cash withdrawals, remittance and government businesses.