A local bank manager bared that there is no established protocol on notifying the public re a bank’s temporarily closure due to the Covid crisis and notification will largely depend on the bank’s top management decision.

Melyn Deligero, branch manager of Security Bank in Tagbilaran, bared the process on the notification of a bank’s temporary closure for business transactions, in a radio interview over “Newsmakers ug Uban Pa” hosted by The Bohol Tribune managing editor Ardy Araneta-Batoy today, Wednesday, June 10, 2020.

In the interview, Deligero said there are managers within the hierarchy of the bank that are tasked to make a decision on a bank’s temporary closure or to decide on the flow of a bank’s business continuity.

A huge decision, like temporary bank closure. Is something beyond the decision-making capability of local branch managers, Deligero said.

Deligero is the former president of the Bohol Bankers Association (BBA).

Regarding the lead time for the dissemination of information about a bank’s temporary closure, Deligero did not provide a clear answer. Instead, she pointed out that the local branch of a bank that decided to temporarily close operations immediately posted a notice just outside the bank’s premises.

“Mao gyud na ang pinakadali na buhaton sa mga bangko,” Deligero said referring to informing the bank’s clients and the public about the temporary closure.

Deligero insisted that the announcement of the temporary closure of a local bank in Tagbilaran City brought about by the bank’s decision to disinfect its offices, was
diligently done by the said bank to its clients based on the client’s contact information.

BACKGROUNDER

The Tagbilaran branch of China Bank, temporarily closed its operation from June 8, 2020 and this will be until June 19, 2020.

According to Liza Ramirez, the bank’s officer-in-charge, reasons for the temporary closure are: the bank “was scheduled for disinfection and sanitation” and due to “compromised” health protocols.

Ramirez did not elaborate about the health protocols of the bank and which among the bank health protocols were compromised.