Chaos at SBI branches, ATMs

Chaos prevailed in State Bank of India (SBI) branches and ATMs as people made a beeline to withdraw cash and carry out other transactions as work resumed after the week-long strike by bank employees ended yesterday.

Many branches and ATMs were struggling to provide services due to lack of full network connectivity and adequate staff leaving many customers fuming.

"I came to update my passbook and withdraw money, but have been waiting as connectivity is down," said an elderly citizen who was sitting on the floor along with others waiting for the service to resume.

At that point of time, another customer shouted at a senior SBI officer as there was no one at the counter he was standing at for over an hour to get services.

Those who possessed ATM cards also had difficulty in withdrawing cash. At the bank's branch at Parliament Street only one of the two ATM was functioning. Likewise, kiosks installed in branches were down as there was no connectivity. "If the management asks employees to work for the whole day and night, the employees are willing to do say," All India SBI Staff Federation vice-president V K Gupta said.

Gupta said employees will do everything to restore the damage caused to SBI's image and inconvenience caused to customers due to the strike by providing good services.

The strike was called off yesterday following a settlement between the employees and bank management on higher pension.