Confirmed COVID-19 Cases Among Bank Employees at NongHyup, Kookmin, Shinhan, and Others
Woori and Hana Banks Temporarily Close Some Branches
On the 24th, as concerns over the spread of COVID-19 grow, citizens wearing masks are commuting at the Gwanghwamun intersection in Seoul. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Min-young] The novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) is spreading within the banking sector. As major bank employees have contracted COVID-19, branch closures are occurring one after another, and employees who worked with confirmed cases are also undergoing self-quarantine. There are growing concerns that direct operational damages are becoming a reality.
According to the banking sector on the 24th, Woori Bank decided to temporarily close the Noeun Branch in Banseok-dong, Daejeon, and the Bupyeong Financial Center Branch in Incheon for two days starting from this day.
This measure was taken following visits by confirmed COVID-19 cases to these branches. Woori Bank completed emergency disinfection of the two branches and placed all employees at these branches under 14-day self-quarantine.
Hana Bank will temporarily suspend operations at the Kyung Hee University International Campus Branch in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, from today until the 11th of next month. Hana Bank stated, “Kyung Hee University has voluntarily closed the Ujeongwon dormitory for Chinese international students as a preventive and safety measure against the spread of COVID-19, leading to the closure of the branch located within Ujeongwon.”
The bank also temporarily closed the Pohang Branch, where a confirmed COVID-19 case was identified on the 20th, until the 25th. Existing Pohang Branch employees were placed under 14-day self-quarantine, and the branch is scheduled to resume operations on the 26th with dispatched employees from the Yeongnam Group.
KB Kookmin Bank also announced that from today, it will temporarily close the Daegu PB Center and bank branch office located in the KB Insurance Daegu Building in Beomeo-dong, Suseong-gu, Daegu. This decision was made because one employee from another company in the building was confirmed positive for COVID-19, prompting KB Insurance to close the building.
There have also been confirmed cases among bank employees. On the 19th, NH Nonghyup Bank confirmed a COVID-19 case in an employee at the Dalseong-gun branch, and on the 21st, a confirmed case was reported at the Sh Suhyup Bank Daegu Branch.
KB Kookmin Bank and Shinhan Bank also confirmed employees working at the Daegu Chimsan-dong Branch on the 21st and the Seongnam Industrial Complex Financial Center in Gyeonggi on the 22nd, respectively, as COVID-19 positive.
Also on the 22nd, a security guard at the DGB Daegu Bank branch office in Daegu Catholic University Hospital tested positive in the first COVID-19 test. Daegu Bank closed the branch and conducted emergency disinfection.
Each bank is also strengthening disinfection efforts at their branches. Banks are disinfecting ATMs, door handles, water purifiers daily and have made mask-wearing mandatory for all employees.
Particularly, they are focusing on disinfecting ATMs frequently used by unspecified large numbers of customers. Major banks disinfect ATM screens and intercoms with disinfectants more than twice daily. Woori Bank has distributed disinfectants for ATMs to branches nationwide. Shinhan Bank is paying special attention to managing airport ATMs.
Bank officials unanimously report that the number of customers visiting branches has significantly decreased since the outbreak of COVID-19. A representative from a commercial bank said, “The number of branch visitors has decreased by more than one-third compared to before the COVID-19 outbreak,” adding, “The decrease is even greater in branches located in busy commercial areas.”
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