The Association of Banks in Lebanon published the following press release:
On Monday the 16th of March 2020, a meeting was held between the representatives of the ABL Board of Directors and a delegation from the Federation of Syndicates of Banks Employees, during which the ABL received a letter from the Federation concerning banks’ work schedule and the mechanism that should be adopted in order to provide banking services during the general mobilization launched yesterday by the Cabinet to face the COVID-19 pandemic. In light of this, the ABL took the following decisions:
- Respond favorably to the demand of the Federation to close the banks’ branches from the 17th to the 29th of March 2020, which is the period of general mobilization launched by the Cabinet in order to face the COVID-19 pandemic, for the security of bank employees, clients and their families.
- Banks, like the BDL (Central Bank), will take all necessary administrative measures in order to guarantee the workflow continuity in administrations and headquarters under these exceptional circumstances. This being said, banks will provide the necessary banking services, in particular:
1. Cash withdrawal in Lebanese Pounds from ATMs.
2. The use of payment cards according to the limits currently fixed.
3. Insure the payment of domiciled and non-domiciled salaries in Lebanese Pounds.
4. Insure the urgent commercial operations for companies and commercial and industrial enterprises, especially those related to food safety and medical supplies, in addition to operations subsidized by the BDL (Central Bank).
5. Maintain the activity of some administrative departments in charge of communicating with the correspondent banks abroad.
Hoping that the current health emergency ends as soon as possible in order to restore the country’s life and banks’ activity, the ABL announces that it will follow up on the situation and will take the necessary decisions in coordination with the monetary authorities, and inform employees of the sector and the public opinion accordingly.