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Covid

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Original poster

Banks - when are they going to fully reopen?

54 replies

Mumratheevergiving · 17/08/2020 14:18

It was understandable that banks reduced their opening hours in the height of the crisis but the branches local to me are still offering reduced hrs - opening 10-3 and no Saturday mornings. Can anyone explain why they have not reopened to their original hrs? I can only think they are cutting their costs (possibly thinking down the line they will close more branches?) but its frustrating to lose the opportunity to do Saturday banking and have them closed outside of core working hrs.

OP posts:

CKBJ · 17/08/2020 14:40

I don’t think they ever will. The amount of money they potentially save is probably the driving factor. I can see them pushing even harder for Online banking to become the normal.

MillicentMargaretAmanda · 17/08/2020 14:56

My local branches haven't offered Saturday banking for years, sadly.

Orchidflower1 · 17/08/2020 15:02

I think they’ll remain like that for the moment but maybe change to a different part of the day for one day a week eg mom- thu 10-4 with fri 11-5.

Sunflowerlover20 · 18/08/2020 10:52

This has been a major issue for me during this pandemic as someone who uses the bank regularly! Honestly can not see why they can’t work full time like everyone else! My bank is 9-3 and closed Saturdays so for someone like myself who works Monday - Friday 8-6 it’s impossible!

Original poster

Mumratheevergiving · 19/08/2020 08:11

Exactly Sunflowerlover it feels like the shortened hrs are for the banks convenience certainly not the customers. I use online banking the majority of the time but there are a couple of things I need to do in branch and their opening hrs are so restricted it makes it tricky.

OP posts:

PumpkinPie2016 · 19/08/2020 08:20

Agreed. My bank,the only branch in our town now, is currently opening 10am-2pm Mon-Fri. No Saturday opening.

Result is a large queue of people waiting outside every day. I do bank online but have needed to go in for a couple of things recently.

InDeoEstMeaFiducia · 19/08/2020 08:21

Never. Covid.

gingercatsarebest · 19/08/2020 08:27

It's most likely banks will probably announce jobs cuts soon (if they haven't already )....branches aren't really viable

YinuCeatleAyru · 19/08/2020 08:28

I need to open a bank account for my 11 year old. all the banks seem to have rules that say their current account for 11 year olds can only be opened in a branch and not online, but it is impossible to open a new account in branch at the moment so they simply will not allow any new accounts of this kind at the moment. if a child is 13 or older the account can be opened online but that's no use to us.

its incredibly short-sighted thinking. people generally never bother switching current accounts between banks so even though a basic account for a kid won't get them much profit this year, it's a lifetime of loyal custom they are choosing to throw away.

Diggingmyselfoutthehole · 19/08/2020 08:35

Our local building society is back to opening Saturdays in September, but all the banks are still closed. 😬

Cherryghost · 19/08/2020 09:18

I don't understand why they can't operate full time I think they are purposely not doing to force people to use online to cut costs.

My branch has plastic screens up and you aren't allowed face to face with staff so there is little risk (other than handling money that has been touched by customers) but they are at much lower risk than supermarket staff.

It's annoying as people are struggling to get change like small businesses or pay cash in and banks are making it as hard as possible.

Having reduced opening hours isn't for the safety of staff or customers (if anything it increases risk for customers all queuing trying to get in before it closes)

ChipsyChopsy · 19/08/2020 09:43

A lot of banks have implemented account opening online. And a lot of banking needs can be met by the post office.

LeSquigh · 19/08/2020 10:20

My branch of Barclays is open almost normal hours (09:00 to 16:00 and 14:00 on Saturdays). I don’t live in a particularly big town.

Badbadbunny · 19/08/2020 10:24

I think it's one of the many things that will never return to normal even long after Covid is a distant memory. I expect the same to happen with the NHS, local councils, schools, public transport etc etc. It's a wonderful excuse to make changes, that in normal times would have caused an outcry.

Mrsjayy · 19/08/2020 10:28

My friend works in a bank she is still furloughed maybe it's that ?.I guess they will get back to normal when they can

delilahbucket · 19/08/2020 10:28

My dp works for a bank. They are open 10-4 mon-fri and 10-2 Saturdays. There are a lot of staff working from home due to shielding, and in order for the bank to be able to allow them to do that, and still operate safely with minimum staff requirements, they are remaining on the shorter hours. Also with base rate as low as it is and the payment holidays, they are not making as much money and are trying to keep costs down without many redundancies.

Youngatheart00 · 19/08/2020 10:29

What do you need to do in branch that can’t be done via online banking / telephone?

premiumshoes · 19/08/2020 10:32

Can anyone explain why they have not reopened to their original hrs?

Because lots of the staff have been redeployed to deal with other aspects of the banking business.

countrygirl99 · 19/08/2020 10:33

They still have vulnerable staff shielding and staff self isolating. It's not a job you can recruit cover staff into quickly as regulatory requirements for training are strict. Supermarkets etc are able to recruit temporary staff fairly quickly if needed so can be far more flexible.

Cherryghost · 19/08/2020 10:33

Young You can't pay in cash online. A lot of elderly use cash or small businesses use cash who rely on elderly paying that way

Mrsjayy · 19/08/2020 10:40

My mum pays all her bills at the bank withdraw s money for this that and the next thing yes it's "old fashioned" but a lot of people work their finances like that.

DoneAdulting · 19/08/2020 10:43

We've all had to change the way we do things, 'old fashioned' people should be adopting new ways of banking too. Pay your bills by direct debit, and pay with card instead of cash!

DramaLlama12 · 19/08/2020 10:50

For those saying go online and bank it's not as simple as that , do you honestly think people want to create unnecessary grief if they dont need to !!
My husband and I have an account 2 to sign , there is NO internet banking NO mobile banking NO card attached to the account.
We. Both have to be present and sign in order to do ANYTHING with the account and can't go up to the counter we have to wait for someone to be available at the desk to help us
We waited over an HOUR last month for less than 5 minutes worth of banking . Thankfully it was a nice day and we werent in the rain
It is what it is, so dont be so bloody rude and no we can't just get a different account its not as simple as that

roses2 · 19/08/2020 10:56

Out of interest - what do people need to go to branch for? How often do you need to pay in cash or cheques?

On my local high street every bank seems to have a huge queue all day every day and I've never figured out what people are doing that they can't do online other than paying in cash and cheques!

Mrsjayy · 19/08/2020 10:57

I shall inform my mother immediately to get with the times

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