Gyeongnam Bank "Protect Headquarters and Branches from COVID-19"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Min-young] BNK Gyeongnam Bank has launched an all-out effort to protect its headquarters and branches from the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

Gyeongnam Bank stated on the 28th, "We have prepared various response scenarios for each situation to ensure that the headquarters and branches operate normally under any circumstances so that customers do not experience inconvenience, and we are responding promptly in stages."

The headquarters personnel have already been dispersed. Departments at the headquarters located in Masanhoewon-gu, Changwon, Gyeongnam, have arranged workplaces in nearby training centers, the Busan IT headquarters, and the Seoul Capital Market headquarters in nearby separate buildings, relocating about 90 essential employees capable of performing critical tasks.

Dispersed employees are restricting movement to and contact with their original workplaces and colleagues until further notice, ensuring thorough preparedness for emergencies.

For the scattered branches, 12 substitute branch teams and alternative personnel pools have been organized by region to enable customer services even in emergencies.

They are also making every effort to prevent infectious diseases. Gyeongnam Bank, which organized an emergency response team on the 28th of last month when COVID-19 began to spread, has installed thermal imaging cameras at the headquarters and major buildings to thoroughly check entrants and conducts regular disinfection.

Automated teller machines outside branches, which can easily be overlooked, are disinfected daily.

Employees are required to use hand sanitizers and wear masks during working hours, restrict interdepartmental movement, limit face-to-face meetings and business trips, and undergo regular temperature checks during work hours.

After COVID-19 was elevated to a serious stage, the bank strengthened preventive measures and established a joint labor-management emergency response team to promptly address various employee difficulties, further enhancing the response system.

Employees who need childcare due to kindergarten closures and elementary school delays are immediately granted ‘family care leave.’

Special leave usage is encouraged for pregnant employees and those with underlying health conditions who have weaker immune systems, showing considerate care.

Yu Chung-ryeol, head of the emergency response team and Group Head of the Management Strategy Group, said, “We will do our utmost until COVID-19 is eradicated to prevent any gaps in financial services and ensure employee safety.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.