Sector rep says banks have taken measures to avoid long queues

The Monetary Authority of Macao (AMCM) and the Macau Association of Banks have called on banks to make arrangements for pandemic prevention work and to avoid crowding of people in queues. 

“Banks [are] distributing tickets for queueing so that [patrons] only need to arrive [at an appointed] time,” president of the Macau Association of Banks Ip Sio Kai commented to TDM.

Ip noted that banks had already stepped up to manage large queues and that all bank managers would keep observing the queues forming outside the banks to deter gatherings.

This comes after long queues were spotted outside several branches since the beginning of the week.

“Special queues have been set up for the elderly and if the waiting time for them is too long, they will be allowed to be seated inside first,” Ip added. 

Whether banks would be open on weekends “would depend on the pandemic situation and [I will] keep an eye on the public’s demand for financial services,” Ip said. 

The AMCM is calling on the public to use online or self-service services as much as possible. 

“Banks can only provide limited services during the consolidation period, namely with regard to the number of workers covered by the measures on travel to work, going to and from the workplace, as well as restrictions on the flow of people in closed spaces,” the AMCM reiterated.

After an almost two-week closure, local banks opened on July 25, providing limited services such as emergency financial services for the public. Staff Reporter