COVID-19: Banking Hours Changed From Today In Tamil Nadu, Details Inside

Because of the unexpected increase in Covid-19 instances in Tamil Nadu, bank branches in the state will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. from April 26 to April 30. Centered on the state's Covid-19 condition, the timing will be updated after April 30. On Saturday, the State Level Bankers' Committee-Tamil Nadu (SLBC-TN) released a set of guidelines to the state's banking institutions. Furthermore, the SLBC-TN has stated that branch operations will be implemented wherever possible in coordination with the state officials. It also urged banks to enlist the assistance of police to handle crowds at branches where a large number of customers are scheduled at a certain time. The subject may be brought to the attention of the Lead District Manager by branches. Furthermore, banking employees who do not have regular relationships with the customers will continue to operate as normal. Personnel from the administrative, zonal, regional, and back offices fall into this group. Here are a few more decisions set by SLBC-TN:

• The related authorities of the concerned banks can allow employees with co-morbidities, pregnant women, and the physically handicapped to operate from home.
• The operations of the Aadhaar Enrolment Centre will be halted.
• Branches operating in areas designated as Containment Zones, if any, must continue to follow the instructions of the relevant authorities.
• All alternative delivery networks, such as bank ATMs, cash deposit machines, and cash recyclers, will be operational.
• The services of Business Correspondents will be available.
• The bank will allow all eligible employees to take advantage of the vaccination service for themselves and their families.
• All other measures to prevent the dissemination of Covid-19, such as using a face mask, washing hands at repeated times and keeping social distance, must be strictly followed.
• Member banks are advised to inform and allow their customers to use alternative delivery channels/digital transactions rather than physically visiting branches.

With the number of coronavirus infections rising day-by-day, banks have agreed to reduce office hours and staff attendance to 50%. The Indian Banks' Association made the decision at a meeting on Wednesday, and normal operating protocols have been articulated to banks in the aftermath of the second stage of the Covid-19 pandemic. Accepting deposits, cash withdrawals, remittance, and government business are the four mandatory services that will be operational at banks.