Banking services were hit across the country for the second day today as about 10 lakh bankers continued their strike to protest a two per cent salary hike offered by Indian Banks Association (IBA), the management body. Today is the last day of the two-day strike being observed by the United Forum of Banking Unions (UFBU), an umbrella organisation consisting all nine unions of the banking sector. Banking operations are likely to become normal from tomorrow.

UFBU has claimed that the strike is total success as the employees have enthusiastically participated in the strike in all banks and in all branches. There are about 85,000 branches of 21 public sector banks across the country having business share of about 70 per cent.

Operations in the new-generation private banks like ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, however, were almost normal, barring few activities including cheque clearance. All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), affiliate of UFBU in a statement said,

nearly 10 lakh employees, working in various branches of 21 public sector banks, 13 old generation private sector banks, six foreign banks and 56 regional rural banks across the country went on a two-day strike yesterday as IBA offered them a nominal wage revision.