Nation wide bandh called yesterday by the opposition parties against fuel price hike led to banking operations getting hit in several parts of the country.

Banking services were disrupted mostly in states ruled by opposition parties like West Bengal, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Delhi saw bank branches opening up but operations saw a dip due to low staff attendance.

According to a RBI spokesperson, only two lakh cheques came up for clearance as compared to an average of 8 lakh cheques coming up on other days.

Most branches of HDFC Bank remained closed in the eastern and northern parts of the country.

Some branches of ICICI Bank in Mumbai and in some States such as Bihar, West Bengal and Gujarat where the Opposition is in power, were shut.

According to Mr Shyamal Acharya, Chief General Manager (Mumbai Circle), State Bank of India, though SBI Mumbai circle branches remained open, customer attendance was very meager.