Contrary to the message circulating on WhatsApp and other social media platforms, banks will remain open in the first week of September except on normal closing days. ATMs, too, will function normally.
A rumour on social media claims that banks will remain closed from 2 September to 5 September and then on 8 and 9 September. The message claimed that the closure will be because of Janmasthami on 3 September, bank strike on 4 and 5 September, and 2nd Saturday and Sunday closure on 8 and 9 September.
The message said that banks will function only on 6 and 7 September while warning that “all ATMs may remain cashless”.
The Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance, took to Twitter on Friday quashing the rumours.
“#Rumours on social media abt closure of banks in 1st week of Sep. Banks to function as usual in Sept. Ist week! NO PAN INDIA BANK CLOSURE ON 3rd Sept. All ATMs & online transactions also to be available unimpeded. Do not trust rumours,” it said while publishing a list of holidays for banks in the first week of September.
#Rumours on social media abt closure of banks in 1st week of Sep. Banks to function as usual in Sept. Ist week! NO PAN INDIA BANK CLOSURE ON 3rd Sept. All ATMs & online transactions also to be available unimpeded. Do not trust rumours. @FinMinIndia @PIB_India @ANI @timesofindia pic.twitter.com/JqMvUVNYrg
— DFS (@DFS_India) August 31, 2018
According to the DFS list, banks will remain closed on 2 September, Sunday, 8 September, 2nd Saturday and 9 September, Sunday. Banks will remain open on all other days.
The strike that the social media forwards are referring to is connected with Reserve Bank of India only.
Ashwani Rana, vice president of National Organisation of Bank Workers, told IANS, “It’s only the RBI employees who are going on mass casual leave on September 4-5 for demands related to Provident Fund and pension. This will not have much impact on the day-to-day operations of the other public and private sector banks.”
Janmashthami is not a holiday for banks in every state. And even if banks are closed on 3 September Janmasthami in any state, there will be no impact on ATMs.
Of the 31 regional and sub-offices of the RBI across the country, 16 will remain closed on September 3 on the occasion of Janmashtami, as per its website.