– Bank encouraging use of Online platforms amidst COVID-19 fears

THE Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has changed the business landscape, and in “keeping up with the times”, Scotiabank Guyana has reduced its operations by deciding not to facilitate transactions for non-Scotiabank customers.

According to a press statement from ‘Scotia’, this new measure, which will be permanent, will take effect from June 8, 2020.

The new measure will apply to services such as cashing of cheques; exchange of cash; cash advances in the banking facility; and limits on foreign current transactions.
“The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way business is conducted, and keeping our customers and employees safe remains our top priority,” ‘Scotia’ said, adding: “In line with this, practising physical distancing is critical, and, to this end, limiting the number of persons in our banking halls at any given time is a necessary requirement.”
As an alternative to the new measures, the Bank is suggesting that persons should utilise its digital and Online platforms for processing payments, as this will not only promote physical distancing, but also afford customers the opportunity of conducting their transactions at their convenience.

Scotiabank says that personal banking customers are now able to conduct third-party transfer of funds to other accounts within Scotiabank and at other banks via it Online banking service, ScotiaOnline.

“Our Small-Business and Corporate, Commercial and Business Banking clients have our award winning Cash Management Services (CMS) platform available to them for processing payments,” Scotiabank said.

The Bank has also enforced in-bank measures to keep customers and employees safe, and among those measures are assigning dedicated cleaners to perform ongoing cleaning of branches and ATM vestibules; placing hand sanitisers in customer areas; and the installation of markings to indicate physical distancing, both inside and outside of the branches.

The Bank has also installed transparent panels at the teller and customer representative counters to help provide a safe barrier while persons are conducting their transactions.