Covid: Bank branches to reduce business hours, offer basic services

In the wake of surge in coronavirus cases across the country, Indian Banks' Association mandates 50% attendance for banks, business hours to be reduced to 10 am-2 pm

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 -