We need Rs 500 notes to end bank queues: SBI

At least Rs 10 lakh crore must be in circulation for the long queues at banks to end but the pressing need is the missing Rs 500 currency, a top SBI official said on Monday.

"According to our study, two months of consumption amount, Rs 10 lakh crore, is required in circulation in the markets. The queues will then disappear," SBI Managing Director Rajnish Kumar said.

"Out of this, at least Rs 3-4 lakh crore should move to the digital or online medium," Kumar added at the Inclusive finance India Summit here.

Hundreds of thousands have been queuing up at banks and ATMs across the country daily since the 500 and 1,000 currency notes were declared illegal tender on November 8.

The State Bank of India official pointed out that lack of enough Rs 500 notes was hindering the faster circulation of currency.

"Right now there is nothing between Rs 100 and Rs 2,000 notes which is causing problems. Once Rs 500 is in circulation, it will ease the situation," he said.

He added that Rs 500 denomination notes were not available.

Kumar said that of the 49,000 SBI ATMs, 43,000 had been recalibrated. "Every day SBI ATMs are dispensing Rs 17,000-19,000 crore," he said.

--IANS

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