[Report] Dozens Gather in Bank Branch Despite Strengthened Social Distancing Measures (Comprehensive)

Many Branches Have Over 10 Waiting Customers
Some Branch Entrances Lack 'Customer Waiting Line' Markings
Banking Association: "Strengthened Social Distancing at Bank Branches from the 28th"
Bank Branches: "No Enforcement, Varies by Bank Circumstances"

On the 8th, when the social distancing level 2.5 was implemented to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), a notice informing about the shortened business hours was posted at Kookmin Bank in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporters Sunmi Park and Byungseon Gong] At 2:20 p.m. on the 28th, at the Yeouido Kookmin Bank branch, nearly 30 people were sitting in groups of three to five, holding their waiting tickets. The bank counters were already full, and the waiting number displayed on the ticket machine was 13. There was no sufficient waiting space in front of the in-branch ATMs, so people were packed closely together. Although everyone was wearing masks, dozens of people were gathered indoors, and customers chatting during their wait were seen here and there.

On the first day of the government's 'Year-end and New Year Special Quarantine Strengthening Measures' for social distancing at bank branches on the 28th, most of the eight major downtown Seoul commercial bank branches visited did not comply with the quarantine guidelines such as limiting indoor waiting customers to 10 or fewer, sitting with one seat apart, and maintaining a 2-meter (minimum 1.5 meters) distance between staff and customers. Instead, the branches were more crowded than usual with dozens of people trying to catch up on delayed banking tasks at the end of the month.

Inside the Euljiro Woori Bank branch, after 2 p.m., people quickly gathered, and the waiting number reached 22. Some customers, aware of the COVID-19 situation, took a number and waited outside the door. At a similar time, the Yeouido Shinhan Bank branch had about 20 people inside due to the continuous influx. Staff who had to measure temperatures and limit the number of people at the entrance were often away helping customers, resulting in some customers entering without temperature checks.

Although signs stating that indoor waiting customers should be limited to 10 were visible in many commercial bank branches, it was rare to see branches enforcing the guideline by making excess customers wait outside once the number exceeded 10. Only about half of the branches complied with the guideline to mark 'customer waiting lines' at entrances for customers who could not enter due to the limit.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

"End-of-month rush... sudden guidelines, not yet prepared"

Bank officials unanimously said that there were limitations in immediately implementing the social distancing strengthening guidelines suddenly announced by the Korea Federation of Banks. They complained that the guidelines were issued without considering the situation of each branch during the busy end-of-month period. Although branch sizes vary, the waiting customer limit is uniformly set at 10.

One bank official said, "In fact, since February 8, commercial bank branch hours have been shortened by one hour to reduce crowding, and staff vacations and training were encouraged. Limiting the number of waiting customers during a busy period is practically difficult to enforce." Another official explained, "The guidelines include a phrase allowing flexible implementation according to each branch's situation, so they are not mandatory," adding, "There has been no official notice from headquarters regarding the Federation of Banks' guidelines yet."

On the first day of the social distancing strengthening at bank branches on the 28th, many banks including Kookmin Bank and IBK focused on creating internal distancing guidelines suitable for their situations without notifying branches of the Federation's guidelines. The Federation explained, "Due to a sudden increase in COVID-19 cases, we gathered opinions from several commercial banks on the 24th and finalized the content. Since each bank's circumstances differ and the guidelines were created suddenly, they were intended more to raise awareness than to be mandatory."

Savings banks also strengthen distancing from the 29th

Meanwhile, following commercial banks, savings banks also limited the number of waiting customers inside branches to 10 as part of social distancing strengthening. The Korea Federation of Savings Banks announced that from the 29th, to join government efforts to prevent COVID-19 spread during the year-end and New Year special quarantine measures, savings bank branches will limit waiting customers to 10 or fewer whenever possible.

For customers who cannot enter due to the limit, waiting lines will be marked at entrances, and guidance will be provided to maintain at least 2 meters distance between customers. Inside branches, waiting customers will maintain a distance of 2 meters (minimum 1 meter). Transparent partitions will be installed at counters to block possible infections between customers and staff, and among customers. If partitions are not available, a distance of 2 meters (minimum 1.5 meters) will be maintained between consulting customers.

In the metropolitan area and Busan, where social distancing level 2.5 is in effect, savings bank branches are currently operating with reduced hours. Operating hours have changed from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

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