Scotiabank has become the second Canadian bank to be hit with a lawsuit alleging some employees are forced to work unpaid overtime.

The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce was named in a similar suit filed in June.

The latest suit, launched Monday in Toronto, covers thousands of current and former front-line customer service workers, including personal bankers, commercial bankers and account executives, at Scotiabank branch offices across the country.

"The average overtime I have been required to work ranges from ten to fifteen hours a week, and often worse during RRSP season," Cindy Fulawka, a personal banking representative with more than 15 years of experience at Scotiabank branches in Saskatchewan and Ontario, said in a news release.

"We are expected to be available 24/7 during this time, making calls on the weekend and in the evenings, without overtime payments," said Fulawka, who is the representative in the lawsuit.

None of the allegations have been proven in court.

Policies applied 'fairly and consistently,' bank says

Scotiabank said in a statement Monday that it is confident its employee policies "have been applied fairly and consistently."

In the statement, the bank said its policy is based on the Canada Labour Code.

"We know our managers at every level take employee concerns seriously and endeavour to resolve problems in a timely manner," the bank said.

The law firms of Roy Elliot Kim O'Connor LLP and Sack Goldbatt Mitchell LLP are representing the plaintiffs in both overtime lawsuits.

They're seeking to have both cases classified as class-action lawsuits.

In the suit against the CIBC, the two firms are representing Dara Fresco, a Toronto-based teller. In that case, the suit seeks $500 million in compensation plus $100 million in punitive damages.

Scotiabank shares were up 47 cents at $52.57 on the TSX on Monday.