Banking services to be affected on Oct 22

Banking services across country are likely to be partially disrupted on October 22 as two bank unions will go on a 24-hour strike on day.

strike has been called by All India Bank Employees' Association (AIBEA) and Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI) to protest against recent bank mergers, falling deposit rates and issues of job security.

Reserve Bank of India and State Bank of India will, however, t participate in strike, sources in m said.

Regional Rural Banks and cooperatives banks will also t participate in strike as mergers do t affect m, sources said.

Striking unions said y will shut ATMs as se will be under strike ambit.

Bank of Maharashtra, Syndicate Bank, Bank of Baroda have expressed concern over re providing rmal customer services.

"We expect a good response from all PSU and private banks," Bank Employees Federation of India (State Federation) General Secretary Joydeb Dasgupta said.

SBI has claimed impact of strike on its operations will be minimum as most of its employees are t members of participating unions.

An SBI union leer said y are t participating in strike and services will be rmal.

Dasgupta said SBI employees have offered moral support to strike he said ding "It would have been good if SBI joined strike".

AIBEA and BEFI also oppose outsourcing of regular and perennial banking jobs and privatisation of banking industry, sources in m said.

y have demanded equate recruitment of clerical and sub-staff and urged for stringent steps for recovery of mounting b loans, sources ded.