PATIALA: The officers of  State Bank of Patiala Wednesday observed complete  strike to press their demand of not to merge Associate Banks viz. State Bank of Patiala, State Bank of Bikaner & Jaipur, State Bank of Hyderabad, State Bank of Saurashtra, State Bank of Mysore, State Bank of Indore and State Bank of Travancore with State Bank of India. 

Amar Singh General Secretary of Associate Banks Officers Association unit State Bank of Patiala stated that the Association is opposing the proposed merger of the Associate Banks of State Bank of India with State Bank of India as the interest of the members will be adversely affected by merger which eventually leads to closure of branches and possible retrenchments. The merger will be against the interests of the Bank as the Associate Banks are performing commendably well since inception and are profit making entities. He further stated that State Bank of Patiala is the only Bank which is having its Headquarters in the region  of Punjab, Haryana & Himachal Pradesh and is serving the poor people in a better way.

Amar Singh apprised that the demand for non merger is in tune with the decision of the Parliamentary Committee in favour of greater degree of autonomy to the Associate Banks on par with  Nationalised Banks.  Besides the Parliament has recently amended the State Bank of India (Subsidiary Banks) Act to provide functional autonomy with a provision for having independent Chairman and freedom to the Associate Banks to raise their capital by going public with a view to make them strong and independent identities.

He  warned the State Bank Management that the Association will resort to further agitational programames in case there is any move to merge the Associate Banks with State Bank of India.