BFIs had shut their offices abruptly after a 6.8 Richter scale earthquake hit the country on Tuesday afternoon.
According to Nepal Bankers Association (NBA) President Upendra Poudyal, banks will provide normal services from all banks that have not reported any damage. "We had provided all banking services a day after the April 25 earthquake. It will remain as usual," Poudyal, who is also the CEO of NMB Bank, told Republica.Though BFIs have not reported major damage in their buildings as at Tuesday evening, the Maharajgunj-based branch office of Himalayan Bank was evacuated by security forces immediately after the quake after cracks were seen in beams of the building.
Most of the bank and financial institutions (BFIs) in Kathmandu Valley remained closed soon after the earthquake rocked the nation on Tuesday. The panic-stricken staff and clients inside various BFIs ran out of their offices following the quake.
Almost all the BFIs inside the Valley except those whose buildings had been damaged resumed their normal businesses a day after the earthquake of April 25. The efforts of BFIs to open their offices a day after the earthquake to offer withdrawal facilities to cash-strapped clients had drawn applause from various quarters. Though BFIs had fixed the withdrawal limit at Rs 50,000 in the initial days, they lifted such restriction in the subsequent days. Despite frequent shocks, all BFIs have resumed banking operations and services to their clients.
Meanwhile, Araniko Development Bank's Charikot branch office has collapsed due to Tuesday's earthquake, according to Development Bankers Association of Nepal's president Krishna Raj Lamichhane. Lamichhane told Republica two staffers, including the branch manager, were trapped inside the collapsed building. Effort to rescue them was underway when this paper went to the press.
Min Bahadur Shrestha, spokesperson of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), said some of the buildings of the central regulatory bank have also suffered damages. "The office of Governor as well as our other offices in Baluwatar and Thapathali have suffered damages. However, we will make sure that the central bank will offer its regular services," he added.
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