Demerara Bank unveil measures to assist staff, customers during pandemic

Demerara Bank said that it continues to monitor the rapidly progressing situation regarding the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and has unveiled a menu of measures to assist staff and customers.

In a report detailing its financial standing the bank said it recognises the socio-economic impact the disease can have on customers, staff and the community at large. As such, the below measures were implemented to combat the novel COVID-19 pandemic for a safe and healthy working environment for all.

• Informational circulars on the Coronavirus and preventive measures are continuously being circulated to all members of staff. Updates on Coronavirus are also being communicated to staff as they become available.
• All of the Bank’s locations immediately went through a thorough cleansing and sanitization process.  Sanitizing hand rubs are strategically placed throughout the Bank where all members of staff would be able to have access to same.
• Gloves were provided to all staff especially those handling customers and money.
• Sinks with hand soaps and clean running water has been strategically installed to allow for frequent washing of hands.
• Disinfecting sprays and wipes were allocated to each location and specific distribution points across the Bank’s network of Branches for staff use.
• Masks were purchased and distributed for all staff use.
• The bank encourages Social Distancing within and outside of work.
• Staff also benefited from Moratorium on all loan payments commenced in order to assist with any financial strain the COVID-19 pandemic would’ve caused.

Additionally, the Bank says it continues to play its role as a corporate citizen and during the year it concentrated efforts on providing relief to vulnerable communities and entities affected during the pandemic. “Donation of relief items and sanitization agents were provided to various charitable organizations, hampers were distributed to various communities including Peters Hall, Herstelling, Linden, Uitvlugt, etc. Donation of electronic devices (tablets) to the Ministry of Education for students of Region No. 9,” the bank stated.

The bank said it also offered general concessional reductions of interest rates on customer loans. “We have applied special treatment to the interest accrued during the moratorium period. All bank charges, including ATM and merchant bank charges were waived to encourage more out-of-bank transactions, as well as charges for transactions by senior citizens. Further, senior citizens are given prior especially during the time whenever they visit the bank.”