Bhubaneswar: Banking operations were affected across Odisha as employees joined a nationwide strike called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) Friday.
The strike coincides with the second Saturday and Sunday, followed by government holidays for Ganesh Puja and Nuakhai.
Consequently, bank branches in the state will remain closed for several consecutive days, with normal services expected to resume September 16.
The prolonged closure comes ahead of the festive season, when banking activity and market transactions are expected to increase. Businesses and customers may therefore face difficulties accessing branch-based services.
There are also concerns about cash availability at ATMs during the closure. Higher demand during the festive period could lead to cash shortages if ATMs are not replenished regularly.
The four demands raised by the bank employees are:
- Five-day working week
- Performance-linked incentive (PLI)
- Pension updation
- Medical insurance for pensioners
