Disaster or no disaster, bankmen have their own way of dealing with 'poor' customers, which was evident when they refused to issue a demand draft on Wednesday to rickshaw pullers in Salem, who wanted to contribute to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister' Public Relief Fund.

The reason was that the rickshaw pullers had brought their hard earned money in the form of coins of one, two and five-rupee denomination for the draft to be sent to mitigate the sufferings of tsunami affected families of Tamil Nadu.

Irked over non-issuance of draft against the coins, the poor daily wagers argued with the staff of State Bank of India that the money was contribution from poor workers. But the security staff removed them from the premises of the nationalised bank at Fort, police sources said.

Agitated over the treatment, the rickshaw pullers resorted to a dharna in front of the bank. As tension mounted, police officials rushed to the spot and managed to placate the rickshaw pullers and loadmen.

Awakening from the 'lethargic attitude', some senior bank officials issued a demand draft for Rs 3,500, without charging the normal bank commission.

The DD was later handed over to the district administration.

Bank officials were not immediately available for comment.

• How you can help tsunami victims