COVID-19 Advisory For Banks Operating In Odisha

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Wednesday issued an advisory for all the banks.

The Finance Department has asked the convener of the State Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC) to strictly follow the following norms.

—Put up corona awareness posters and banners prominently in bank branches and ATMs.

—All staff members should use masks during office hours.

—Keep sufficient hand sanitizers hand wash soaps in the washrooms.

—Advise  staff members to clean hands using hand sanitizer/hand wash soaps at regular intervals.

—Keep hand sanitizer in the ATMs and advise customers to use it after transactions.

—Ask security guards to sanitize the ATM counters every day.

—Allow customers to enter ATMs one by one.

—Avoid crowding in the branches, open more counters and allow customers inside branches in small batches.

—Send bulk SMS to customers spreading corona awareness messages and advising not to visit branches/ATMs except in urgency and to use mobile banking and internet banking services.

—The ATMs should also be kept open with sufficient cash to avoid the rush in the bank counters.

—Notify the customers dedicated phone numbers for any transaction queries instead of visiting the branches personally.

—Banking correspondents should be advised to use masks and carry hand a sanitizer with them. In rural areas, where hand sanitizers are not available, they can use other disinfectants like Dettol, Savlon etc, for cleaning hands themselves and the customers as well.

The Finance Department has also said that volunteers of the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) will inspect the ATM counters and report any violation in this direction which will be viewed seriously.