Shillong, Feb 28: Operations at state-owned banks is impacted today as most unions under the aegis of United Forum of Bank Unions go on strike to press for various demands including those related to wages. Banking operations across the country came to a halt on Tuesday as 10 lakh bankers staged a strike against the government’s “anti-people banking reforms”, said a bank union leader.

The strike was called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), comprising nine unions. They also pressed for
compensation to employees for extra work done on account of demonetisation. The strike covers employees and officers in all public sector banks, including State Bank of India, all old-generation private banks, foreign banks, regional rural banks and cooperative banks. Most of the banks, including SBI, PNB and BoB, have already informed their customers that functioning of branches and offices will be impacted if the strike takes off.Top private lenders — ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and Axis Bank — are not part of the union and would continue to function normally but cheque clearances would not take place.