KATHMANDU: The Nepal Bankers Association (NBA), the umbrella body representing 27 commercial banks of the country, has urged its member banks to prioritize working from home amid increasing cases of COVID-19 among bank staffs.
The NBA appealed its member banks to promote digital banking and operate bank branches with limited staffs adopting effective measures against the spread of the COVID-19.
As banking services are considered essential services and directly linked to the public, this spread of the contagion among bankers has also posed a risk to the public.
Till date, dozens of staffs in 12 banks across the country (10 commercial banks in Kathmandu Valley and two development banks outside the valley) have been infected with COVID-19. Employees of Rastriya Banijya Bank, Global IME Bank, Agricultural Development Bank, Mega Bank, Nabil Bank, Nepal Investment Bank, Everest Bank, Laxmi Bank, Garima Development Bank and Tinau Mission Development Bank, among others have been reported to have been infected with coronavirus.
Earlier, the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) had also directed banks and financial institutions (BFIs) to give banking services with limited physical presence of staffs in offices.