Due to the surge in COVID-19 cases, banks have decided to cut branch hours and reduce employee attendance by 50 percent.
Business Standard reported that the Indian Banks Association (IBA) said that now the branches will work from 10 am to 2 pm.
Four functions banks will provide at branches – deposits, cash withdrawals, remittances and accepting government businesses.
Business Standard reported that the IBA took the decision in a meeting on 22 April and sent a letter to the lenders.
The IBA said in a letter to banks, “Banks’ working hours (business hours) may be limited to 10 am-2pm. Door step banking activities should be encouraged”.
The IBA said, “All SOPs about social disturbances, customer management, health and hygiene, wearing masks and gloves etc. which are exposed in all bank premises should be strictly followed.”
India reported 3.14 lakh new COVID-19 cases and 2,104 deaths on 21 April alone. This was the highest single-day surge in new infections reported by any country during the epidemic.
