Banks seek deployment of cops to deal with customers' rush

Anticipating panic and heavy rush at bank branches tomorrow for exchange and deposit of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, banks in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh have sought deployment of police at branches in order to avoid any law and order problem.

With high denomination notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 being demonetized, banks have geared up to face the challenge of dealing with customers who are expected to come in hordes tomorrow for exchange of money when branches open.

"Sensing heavy rush at branch levels tomorrow, all the lead district managers have been asked to approach district administration for providing police security at bank branches so that there is no law and order problem," an official of Punjab National Bank said today.
 

Similarly, a senior official of State Bank of India (SBI) here said that bank's security officials have been asked to approach respective government authorities for deploying cops as well as patrolling near branches wherever the need arises.

Even as banks asserted that there was no need to panic, they said additional counters will be set up at branch levels to facilitate customers.

"We will be setting up two counters at each branch in our zone for exchange of cash," said a senior officer of Central Bank of India.

With the setting up of additional counters, banks will also be sending extra staff to branch levels so that customers should not face any harassment.

With banks anticipating that ATMs might go empty early for some days, they have also decided that frequency of refilling cash dispensing machines will be enhanced so that customers could get cash as per their requirements.

"We shall also enhance the frequency of refilling the ATMs," said SBI official.

Meanwhile, bank officials said that customers will fill a requisition slip as per format specified by RBI with proof of identity along with old high denomination notes for their exchange.

Banks will open tomorrow to help people exchange Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes that have been declared invalid.