Heavy rush at banks for exchange of notes

​Vijayawada: Thousands of people thronged the bank branches across the city on Thursday to exchange the currency notes after the RBI had banned the high denomination currency notes of Rs 1000 and Rs 500. People eagerly waited for reopening of the bank branches to exchange the currency notes.

All banks and post offices have made arrangements to exchange the currency notes of high denomination. The RBI has already sent the currency to the respective bank branches and made arrangements for the distribution. Each customer could get up to Rs 4,000 only as per the guidelines of the RBI.

The banks collected the ID proof and exchanged the currency notes. Customers submitted an application consisting of name and ID card like Aadhaar card, driving licence, voter ID card, passport, Pan card etc and details of the old currency denomination to exchange the notes.

The bank staff entered the details of the customers in computers and gave the new currency notes in lieu of the old currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs1,000.

Andhra Bank main branch in One Town witnessed a huge rush since morning as several hundred customers thronged the bank to exchange the high denomination notes of Rs 500 and Rs1000.

The customers waited nearly two hours in queue line to exchange the currency notes. The bank also accepted the deposits with the old currency notes, which were banned by the RBI.

Andhra Bank main branch chief manager I V V S Kumar said the bank had taken all steps to ensure exchange of currency notes. He said the customers can comfortably exchange their currency notes by producing the Aadhar card, driving licence, voter ID card or other cards.

He said not only customers but non customers can also exchange the new notes. State Bank of India branch located near K Market witnessed a huge rush since 10 am as hundreds of people rushed to the bank to exchange the currency notes.

The bank has opened separate counters and deployed extra staff to exchange the currency notes. Being located in the busy commercial area, nearly 2,000 customers visited the bank from morning to evening. Security tightened near the bank to maintain queue lines and avoid mad rush.

On the instructions of Commissioner of Police Gautam Sawang, police personnel were deployed for the special duty at the banks and controlled the customers.

SBI manager M Vamsi Krishna said: “We have made arrangements for the convenience of the customers and supplying sufficient application forms to furnish the details of Aadhaar or other ID card numbers.”

He said the bank is trying to open the branch till night so that the customers could exchange the currency notes or deposit their money. A bank customer Mahendar Singh joyfully displayed the new currency note of Rs 2,000 denomination after receiving in the bank.

However, the customers upset with the size and colour of the new currency note. K Ramesh, a customer, said he was disappointed to see the new currency note. He said the old notes which were banned were big in size and looked very attractive.

In Seetarampuram Andhra Bank branch, currency exchange was delayed till afternoon. The bank regular customers got the new currency notes.

Andhra Bank chief manager I S N Murthy said arrangements have been made to exchange and accept the deposits. The customers heaved a sigh of relief after getting Rs 100 denomination and new currency notes with denomination of Rs 2,000 and Rs 500.

Banks at Satyanarayanapuram, Gandhi Nagar, Krishnalanka, Ajit Singh Nagar, Kothapeta, Labbipet, Elur road and other parts of the city witnessed similar rush since morning. The bank officials feel that rush may come down by Sunday or Monday.