SBT banking operations hit

Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 27 (UNI) Banking operations in the State Bank of Travancore (SBT), one of the associate banks of the State Bank of India (SBI), were affected today as employees joined the nationwide strike to oppose the merger of subsidiary banks with the SBI.

The employees under the banner of All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) and the All India Bank Officers Association (AIBOA) took out a march in the city.

Reports from different places said the functioning of all SBT branches was affected. However, the ATMs functioned normally.

The union leaders said the merger would lead to closure of a large number of branches and reduction of manpower and warned the protest would be intensified if the authorities went ahead with the merger.

Employees of the State Bank of Patiala, State Bank of Mysore, State Bank of Hyderabad, State Bank of Indore and State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur also went on strike to protest the merger.

UNI