By TRN Online, Kathmandu, May 3: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has issued a directive for the banks and financial institutions to provide services through the maximum presence of 25 per cent staff.

Citing the swirling cases of COVID-19 infection these days NRB directed banks and financial institutions to mobilise only 20 percent staff in the central office and 25 percent in the branch offices on Sunday.

The government has issued a 15-day restraining order in some districts, including the Kathmandu Valley since Thursday after the second wave of the COVID-19 outbreak spread rapidly.

NRB has also directed to provide banking services by operating branches in coordination with local bodies to comply with the prohibition orders issued or to be issued by various agencies.

NRB has directed to increase business through digital technology and reduce physical services to prevent the presence of unnecessary employees. The directive also mentions that the employees should work from home and a distance.

The directive states that the contact number of the contact person for opening inquiries regarding the services on the main door of the closed branch office, the website of the organization and the social network, the alternative branch to be opened, and the information regarding the period should be published daily.

The Nepal Bankers' Association has urged the customers to make high use of digital banking services with the slogan, “Let's do business from home, keep ourselves and others safe.”

Meanwhile, the Insurance Committee, the regulatory body of insurance companies, has also urged the companies to work online as much as possible.

The committee has directed the life and non-life insurance companies to issue insurance policies online during the prohibition period.