Chennai, May 02: Normal operations of banks in Chennai and elsewhere in Tamil Nadu have been badly affected due to the nation-wide strike called by bank officers' unions. A spokesman for All India Bank Officers Association told a news agency that the strike was "total" throughout the state.

Most of the banks remained open without conducting any transactions, according to reports reaching here from various parts of the state. However, 'new generation' private banks and foreign banks were functioning normally.

The striking officers held a demonstration in front of the headquarters of Indian Overseas Bank this morning. The striking organisations' demands include issues relating to wage revision, pension, promotions and fresh recruitments offset the shortage due to VRS.

In Madurai functioning of the state treasury houses and issuance of salaries to some of the departments had been affected.

Even the private banks in Madurai and nearby region had been hit as the clearance house did not function. The bank officers are on one-day strike demanding that the government resolve the issues that had been agreed during the talks last year.

Bureau Report