The number of people going to their local bank branches has not decreased despite the nationwide state of emergency during the coronavirus outbreak, troubling employees.
Customers who are going to the bank for reasons, such as finding their old bank books after cleaning their house or trying to cancel contracts, especially stand out.
Banks are a part of the financial infrastructure that supports the daily lives of citizens and provide financing for small to mid-size businesses, and thus allowed to continue to operate normal business hours under the state of emergency.
At some banks, there have been customers who have more time on their hands because of working from home and have brought old or commemorative coins to be exchanged.
"There seems to be a discrepancy between what constitutes nonurgent and unnecessary between banks and customers," a branch manager of major banks said.
There has been a total of 15% decrease in the number of customers at all of Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp.'s banks nationwide as of around April 1, compared to February. However, roughly 30% of the branches have reported an increase in customers. The increase is mostly seen at branches in residential areas. A branch in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, reported more than 25% increase in the number of customers.
To prevent the coronavirus from spreading further at these crowded banks, infection prevention measures are being put in place at all locations.
At the service windows of the roughly 490 branches of MUFG Bank Ltd., about 4,700 transparent acrylic panes have been installed. At some branches of Resona Bank Ltd. and Sumitomo bank, stuffed animals have been placed in the waiting areas to maintain space between each customer.
Banks are also urging customers to use online banking or their banking app for transactions that involve changing an address or for wire transfers.
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