Responding to the corona virus scare, several cooperators associated with Urban Cooperative Banks of India have said their banks are taking essential steps to fight the situation. Most of the cooperators demanded that RBI should extend the time period for classification of NPAs on short term loans from the present 90 days to 180 days.
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TJSB Sahakari Bank, CEO, Sunil Sathe
The present situation due to the coronavirus is extremely serious but we are taking the best possible measures to keep our employees and customers safe. We have already urged our customers to come to the bank only when there are emergency needs. If a customer’s Fixed Deposit has matured, he/she can take their money after one month.
Our corporate offices as well as branches are running but we have given alternate days work-from-home to our employees. Beside, we are also planning to reduce the banking hours to ensure safety for our customers.
Employees wear their own masks while working and ask customers to wash their hands with sanitizers while entering the bank premises. Only at a time five persons are allowed to enter in the bank’s branches.
RBI should extend the time period for classification of NPAs on short term loans like cash credit and overdraft and guarantees like letters of credit (LCs) from the present 90 days to 180 days.
Please suggest that RBI should form a committee after lifting of lock down for revising the existing guidelines to overcome the difficulties face by all the customers.
Bassein Catholic Cooperative Bank, Director, Onil Almeida
The bank has reduced the working hours for the sake of safety for our customers and employees. We are changing our cashier in two-two hours so that employees can be safe from the coronavirus pandemic. Customers are asked to wash their hands with sanitizer while entering the bank and employees wear masks while working.
We have also re-shifted our employees. The bank conducts meetings through video conferencing. RBI should extend the time period for classification of NPAs.
Janata Sahakari Bank, Pune, CEO, Jayant Kashinath Kakatkar
We have taken all the safety steps as others banks have done. We have reduced the employees strength and Customers are asked to wash their hands with sanitizer while entering the bank and employees wear masks while working.
All the banking activities are going on well. The Urban Cooperative Banking sector has made several demands before the RBI and I am sure that the apex bank will address them sooner than later.
Citizencredit Cooperative Bank, CEO, Chirstopher Mendoza
We have followed the Indian Banks Association (IBA) guidelines to ensure bank employees and account holders stay protected against the highly-infectious disease. The bBank’s corporate office as well as branches are opened but we have reduced the staff members upto 50 percent. Several employees have been asked to work from home.
All Branches irrespective of their existing timings will work in single shift. Sunday banking will be temporarily discontinued.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic the bank has cancelled several important meetings. I am sure that it will impact bank’s balance sheet in a big way. The Business hours will be from 9.00 AM to 1.00 PM.
We have already told our account holders to avoid going to the bank branches and do online banking from home using internet banking facility, mobile banking solutions etc.
Buldana Urban, MD, Sukesh Zamwar
We are following the government instruction properly. Our all branches are opened but the business hours will be from 11:00 A.M to 3:00 P.M. The bank has also reduced the employees’ strength.
Meetings have been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Kaijs Bank, Vice Chairman, CA Shri. Chandrakant Chougule
We have given holidays to our female staff-members working in corporate office as well as branches till 31st March. The bank is also taking safety measures to ensure safety for all.
Though, less customers are visiting the branches we have deployed the local employees to their nearest branches due to the non-availability of transport.
Pune People’s Co-Operative Bank, Chairman, C. A. Janardan Ranadive
Branch Timing changed from 10 am to 2 pm. Corona Educational and precaution Boards displaced outside Branch, H. O. And in various societies, medical shops and prominent places.
Every person visiting Bank and ATM is sanitized. Fifty percentage staff on rotation.
All the clearing cheque’s collection being carried out by Banks Drivers and Vehicles. Planning to provide around 1000 masks to Govt. machinery fighting corona viruses.
Sufficient cash arrangement made in ATMs. Clients advised to avoid visiting Banks and requested to use anywhere any bank facility. Approach the nearest branch if very urgent.
All staff members given letters to show the police whenever asked while traveling since all travel modes are suspended.