Most banks keep branches open Saturday
Sunday, 20 September 2009
FE Report
Many commercial banks kept their branches open across the country on Saturday to facilitate transactions of their clients before the extended Eid-ul-Fitr vacation.
In Dhaka, most of the foreign exchange branches, officially known as authorised dealer (AD) branches, along with some general branches were kept open on the day in line with the central bank's instructions.
On Thursday, the Bangladesh Bank (BB) issued a circular saying that the commercial bank may keep all or selective branches open on Saturday to facilitate business transactions across the country before the vacation for Eid-ul-Fitr officially begins from Sunday.
"We kept 40 of our AD branches open across the country to facilitate customers before the Eid vacation," Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Agrani Bank Limited Syed Abu Naser Bukhtear Ahmed told the FE.
Currently, around 770 foreign exchange branches of all commercial banks are operating their businesses in the country.
But Mr. Bukhtear did not find any reason to keep all the branches open for one day before the Eid vacation, saying that the businessmen will have to pay additional charges if they want extra services on holidays.
A senior official of a leading private commercial bank said banks face financial losses if they keep their branches open during vacation because of insignificant turnovers.
"Branches at port areas only makes some reasonable transaction on holidays," the official added.
The branches at air, sea and land ports are allowed to operate during two-day weekends to facilitate foreign trade, the central bank said in a directive issued earlier.
Many commercial banks kept their branches open across the country on Saturday to facilitate transactions of their clients before the extended Eid-ul-Fitr vacation.
In Dhaka, most of the foreign exchange branches, officially known as authorised dealer (AD) branches, along with some general branches were kept open on the day in line with the central bank's instructions.
On Thursday, the Bangladesh Bank (BB) issued a circular saying that the commercial bank may keep all or selective branches open on Saturday to facilitate business transactions across the country before the vacation for Eid-ul-Fitr officially begins from Sunday.
"We kept 40 of our AD branches open across the country to facilitate customers before the Eid vacation," Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Agrani Bank Limited Syed Abu Naser Bukhtear Ahmed told the FE.
Currently, around 770 foreign exchange branches of all commercial banks are operating their businesses in the country.
But Mr. Bukhtear did not find any reason to keep all the branches open for one day before the Eid vacation, saying that the businessmen will have to pay additional charges if they want extra services on holidays.
A senior official of a leading private commercial bank said banks face financial losses if they keep their branches open during vacation because of insignificant turnovers.
"Branches at port areas only makes some reasonable transaction on holidays," the official added.
The branches at air, sea and land ports are allowed to operate during two-day weekends to facilitate foreign trade, the central bank said in a directive issued earlier.