Last Updated on April 7, 2020, 5:48 PM AST by Anthony Morris
Saint Lucia’s Bankers Association said that the member banks would resume limited banking operations from April 7, 2020.
The decision has been made following the announcement made by the Honourable Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, Allen Chastanet on April 5 about the end of the 24-hour curfew.
Financial institutions are careful of the continuous threat which is being posed by COVID-19, and they would be opening their doors for the public from 8 a.m. to 12 noon only until further notice is issued.
The banks would also be implementing special measures for social distancing.
The following banking services would be made available to the general public:
– Full ATM services
– Over the counter teller services for personal and business customers
– Payroll processing
– Wire transactions
– Night depository services
– Processing of urgent temporary credit facilities
The members of the Association would be implementing social distancing markers in the banking halls to make sure that every customer would be at least six feet apart from each other.
The elderly would be given priority.
In addition to this, the areas outside the banks would be demarcated to allow customers to stand at least at a six feet distance from each other.
Members of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force and other security personnel would also be kept on hand to ensure that the public complies with these measures.
The Association also said that the members of staff at the banks would also be wearing masks and customers are also encouraged to wear masks for the protection of themselves and others.
To limit the number of visits to the banks, the Association would encourage the general public to use digital channels such as online and mobile banking and debit and credit cards as far as possible.
The member banks of the Association are:
1st National Bank St. Lucia Limited
Capita Financial Services Inc
Bank of Saint Lucia Limited
Financial Investment And Consultancy Services Limited
CIBC FirstCaribbean International
Republic Bank EC Limited
RBC Royal Bank
Saint Lucia Development Bank
Sagicor Finance Inc
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
