The All India Bank Employee’s Association has written to RBI governor Shaktikanta Das asking the regulator to instruct the banks not to seek identification for the exchange of Rs 2,000 banknotes at the branches.

“The RBI instruction is very clear that the exchange of Rs 2,000 bank notes across the counter should be provided to the public in the usual manner as provided earlier, i.e, without insisting on any request slip or ID proof since these banknotes continue to be a legal tender,” said C.H. Venkatachalam, general secretary AIBEA, in his letter.

“We regret to observe that some of the banks are still insisting on the public to provide a request letter along with detail of notes, ID proof, contact number, address etc. This, besides being not in conformity with the RBI instructions, is creating avoidable tension and quarrel in branches by the customers and the staff concerned in these branches are facing the wrath of the public,” the letter said.

Venkatachalam requested the governor to reiterate the RBI’s instruction to the banks once again.