BENGALURU: Only senior citizens were allowed to exchange old currency notes for new ones across all banks in the city on Saturday as per the announcement made by the Indian Banks’ Association.
Staff at the banks as well as members of local organisations were seen providing various facilities to the senior citizens.
Queues at many banks were comparatively shorter. Senior citizens were seen coming to banks with their family members. Srinivasa M N, a retired BSNL employee, said that there was a queue but he could get the notes exchanged within half an hour. “I did not have any problem,’’ he said.
Seventy-seven-year-old Bhawar Lal Chopra said his work was done within five minutes at Canara Bank’s Chamarajpet branch. “The staff were co-operative. I never thought my old currency notes would be exchanged this fast,’’ he said.
Padma Venkatesh (63), a retired teacher who went to a State Bank of Mysore branch at Rajajinagar said, “ The staff at the bank escorted me till the counter and helped in fill the forms.”
A senior official from Canara Bank said that with the help of various NGOs and other organisations, they provided juice, biscuits and water to the senior citizens.
“We also launched 200 micro ATM vehicles from which people can withdraw money on the spot. We have asked our Group-D staff and retired employees to help senior citizens at the bank premises,’’ he added.
“At some of our branches, the staff themselves gave senior citizens coffee and tea, while some served juice.
“There was no rush as only senior citizens were allowed. Even our ATMs are working from Saturday and people are getting money,’’ said a senior manager of State Bank of India.