The Bengal government has allowed bank branches in the state to reopen on first and third Saturdays of the month starting September 5.

Also from September 5, business hours of the banks for customers will continue till 4pm, instead of 2pm.

The Bengal government had on July 20 declared Saturdays as public holidays for all bank branches in the state under the Negotiable Instruments Act. The government’s order was effective till further change and the State Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC) had advised the banks on August 13, 2020, that all branches shall remain closed on Saturdays till August 31.

There was confusion among customers and bankers whether the closure of branches on Saturdays would be extended to September and this prompted the banks to raise their concern with the bankers’ committee.

In a notification issued on Thursday, the state finance department announced that the July 20 notification stood cancelled with immediate effect allowing all branches to function on Saturdays except the second and fourth Saturdays of the month, as was the norm before the restriction was imposed.

The SLBC said on Friday banks would resume their normal business hours (10am to 4pm for customers) from Saturday. Earlier, the hours were from 10am to 4pm.

“The branches will remain open till 4pm for customers from Saturday. The banks will remain closed only on the lockdown days announ-ced by the state government. Otherwise the banks will function normally.

We have sent the instruction to all banks,” said Ashwini Kumar Jha, convenor SLBC, West Bengal.

The Bengal government has extended the lockdown in containment zones till September 30 and declared September 7, 11 and 12 as “complete lockdown” days.

Sources at Nabanna said the holiday on Saturdays was declared as Covid-19 cases were rising in the state and it was assumed that the disease was significantly spreading from bank branches.

“Now, Covid cases are continuously decreasing and bank officials are not being affected as much as in the past month. So, it was decided that the banks should be allowed to function normally,” said an official.