Functioning of SBM, SBI branches affected

Bangalore, Aug 18 (UNI) Work in the branches of State Bank of India (SBI) and its associate banks in Karnataka was affected today following the Officers joining the nationwide strike by All India State Bank Officers Federation (AISBOF) to protest the merger of State Bank of Sourashtra with SBI.

Federation's Karnataka unit General Secretary G D Nadaf told UNI that the strike was total as officers in over 850 branches were participating in the agitation.

''Transactions came to standstill in all branches of the State Bank of Mysore (SBM) and its associate banks as officers were on strike'', he claimed.

He said that a two-hour demonstration was held in front of SBM head office here and the participants shouted slogans against the merger.

A Gulbarga report said the protest evoked good response in Gulbarga, Raichur and Bidar districts in North Karnataka.

UNI MSP-DP RS AKM 1618