Banking operations across West Bengal were completely stalled in response to the nation-wide general strike called by central trade unions today.
Branches of all nationalised, private and foreign banks were closed in the state during the day.
Seven of the nine all-India organisations in the banking industry have joined central trade unions to support the strike.
Issues against which the banking unions are opposed are: privatisation of public sector banks, outsourcing of jobs and further opening up of the sector to foreign entities.
However, the ATMs remained open giving some relief to people.
The insurance sector also remained paralysed due to the strike.