Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Sept 20: While it is being claimed that all the branches of J&K Bank are up and running, score of customers are left high and dry for the want of services as they are made to roam around from branch to branch.
Scores of customers told Excelsior that while the Bank higher-ups have clubbed various business units from Srinagar city at one place, they even then are being denied of services on the pretext of shortage of staff.
“I come from Palpora Srinagar. I have my bank account at J&K Bank Safa Kadal. I went there and the branch was closed; somebody told me that Safa Kadal branch is functional at J&K Bank Karan Nagar near Srinagar Municipal Corporation, but they said that they don’t have enough staff there,” said Shahzada who had to walk more than 10 kilometers to deposit money.
Apart from clubbing the branches, there are some Business Units in Srinagar that remain open from 10-12 in the noon and after that they remain shut leaving people in lurch. “They should either open units fully or close them down. What is the fun of keeping them open just for two hours; that is not serving any purpose,” people said.
“I had a cheque to cash; there is no particular rule that I should visit that particular branch to do so. I went to a nearby J&K Bank branch to cash it, but they categorically denied me the services saying that I should visit the branch where the account holder is having the account, plus that they are short of staff”, said Rouf Ahmad.
Similarly the State Bank of India, apart from others, is also making customers to roam from one branch to another, particularly those who are intending to cash cheques or are trying to avail other services.
“I had a cheque belonging to SBI’s Karan Nagar branch, but the branch was closed a few days ago, then I went to the SBI branch situated at Residency road, they did not accept even when the cheque could have been cashed at any SBI branch; they are adding to peoples’ hardships,” said Feroz Ahmad.
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