Bank branches dealing with govt business to remain open on Sunday to facilitate payment transactions: RBI

Mumbai: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Tuesday directed banks to keep open their branches dealing with government business on the last day of the financial year (31 March), which happens to be Sunday. “The Government of India has advised that all Pay and Account Offices will remain open on 31 March, 2019 (Sunday) to facilitate government receipt and payment transactions. Accordingly, all Agency Banks are advised to keep all their branches dealing with government business open on 31 March, 2019 (Sunday),” RBI said in a circular. [caption id=“attachment_5972931” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. Reuters[/caption] In a separate notification, the RBI said the government of India has desired that all government transactions done by agency banks for the financial year 2018-19 must be accounted for within the same financial year and has requested that, as in previous years, certain special arrangements be made for this purpose. “Accordingly, all agency banks should keep the counters of their designated branches conducting government banking open for government transactions up to 8 pm on 30 March, 2019 and up to 6 pm on 31 March, 2019,” it said. All electronic transactions, including RTGS and NEFT, will continue for the extended time on 30 March and 31 March, 2019 for which RBI will issue necessary instructions, it said.