The rise in morbidity is also reaching the banks’ rates. The Supervisor of Banks today (Sunday) issued an urgent draft of the public comments in which it allows banks to leave only 80% of their branches open and temporarily close the remaining 20% of branches. This provision will be valid until February 28th. A similar order was issued with the outbreak of the corona plague, but with the moderation of the morbidity the banks were obliged to return to full activity, and now, as stated, they were allowed to reduce the number of branches again.
“In view of the increase in morbidity and the rapid rate of infection, there is concern about a significant lack of manpower in the economy as a whole and in the banking system in particular. In addition, “The number of branches open to the public, provided that its rate does not fall below 80% of the bank’s branches,” the Supervisor of Banks explained. The draft is open for public comment until tomorrow, Monday, and the Bank of Israel Advisory Committee will also submit its comments on the draft by tomorrow.
The Supervisor also stated that the banks will determine the public branches that will remain open given the proper geographical distribution of the branches and their ability to provide banking services to a wide public of customers. In the public branches that will remain open, clerk services will be provided, at the very least, for those services that cannot be performed through the banking channels in the media, even to the customers of the banking corporation whose branch is not open to the public.
In addition, banks will be required to publish on the door of each branch that is closed the details of the branch of the nearest public branch and the telephone number of the call center of the banking corporation, as well as on the website and other means that select the list of branches open to the public.
In addition, banks may require customers to make an appointment in advance, subject to the principles set out in the directive.
Senior citizens do not have to make an appointment in advance
“Due to the spread of the corona virus and in order to enable continuity in the provision of banking services to the general public, while maintaining its health and the health of the banking corporation’s employees, the banking corporation may stipulate that all services in branches will be provided subject to prior appointment. “Without making an appointment in advance. The banking corporation will ensure that the appointment process is efficient, simple and fast, and that the waiting times for receiving the service are reasonable,” the Supervisor of Banks explained. It is further stipulated that the banking corporation will publish on its website the need for prior appointment coordination and the types of customers and types of cases for which service will be provided even without prior appointment coordination.
“The banking corporation will establish work processes that will identify and respond to special cases for customers who cannot receive the service through the banking channels in the media and need a frontal response and will ensure adequate resources for telephone response within a reasonable time to customers belonging to branches not open to the public,” the draft explained.
“The Corona virus event has not yet reached its desired end, and as a result the banking system continues to manage the business continuity risks arising from the Corona event. In this context, banks are required to continue to take the necessary steps to ensure customer and employee protection,”