Banks in Chennai deploy boats to dispense cash

few banks to dispense with penalties on EMI delayed payments

At a time when banking -- especially ATMs operations -- have come to a standstill, few banks have come forward for their customers by deploying mobile ATMs and boats to dispense cash.

Some banks have decided to waive off penalty on late EMI payments. It may be noted, all the banks in flood-affected areas will remain open on Sunday till extended business hours.

On Friday, Department of Financial Services conducted a review meeting with all the public and private sector banks and reviewed services in Chennai and other flood-affected districts in Tamil Nadu.

All the banks have been asked to restore banking services in affected areas as early as possible and provide ATM and other services round the clock.

They have been requested to provide mobile ATMs/PoS Machine services through Bank Mitras mounted on boat or other means. Banks have been asked to replenish cash in all the ATMs. All the banks in floo-affected areas will remain open on Sunday and will also offer extended business hours.

State Bank of India said that despite the fact that many of the branches and ATMs of the bank have been severely affected by the heavy downpour in Chennai, the bank has taken steps to ensure that the majority of the branches are working.

Most of the ATMs in the city are dispensing cash. ATMs which are not functioning are attended to on priority basis. Bank is deploying Mobile ATM which is moving around the city dispensing cash.

"We have also arranged hand held machines to dispense cash through mobile vans and our employees are stationed at various parts of the city with the hand held machines. Boats are deployed for dispensing cash at places which are marooned.  We have also made arrangements for opening 47 branches in the affected areas on Sunday (December 6) for the public," said SBI.

Canara Bank has said that in view of the heavy flood situation in Chennai / Kancheepuram and certain areas of Tamilnadu State  14 branches of the bank could not function. Currency Chest Cash Movement has been stopped and  270 ATMs have been affected.

The bank has sent Mobile ATMs from Bangalore and has started functioning. The same is being utilised in worst affected areas in Chennai, said the bank.

Bank's 15 branches in worst-affected areas in Chennai City / Kancheepuram would function tomorrow till 2.00 PM and 25 cordless POS machines arranged for use in affected areas for cash withdrawal from tomorrow (i.e., December 06, 2015) for which the bank has formed a Task Force, said the bank.

ICICI Bank spokesperson said, "ICICI Bank will not levy any penalty for its customers in Chennai for delay in EMI payments for the month of November. It will also waive off charges for cheque bounce in the same period."

Similarly, HDFC bank said, "In a gesture of support to the people of Chennai, we would like to inform our customers in the city that the penalty for delay in EMI and card payments will be waived off for the month of November. We would like to assure everyone that the bank is leaving no stone unturned in providing continuous banking services in the city. Given the scale of the natural disaster there are challenges and we regret the inconvenience caused to our customers".