Suspension of Automated Teller Machine (ATM) services has disappointed customers on the eve of Eid-ul-firt as people are unable to withdraw money from the machines.
Different branches of the bank out of a total of 1,400 across the country witnessed issues related to bad link, delaying issuance of pensions and failing to support finance-related needs of the locals few days before Eidul Fitr.
Long queues were seen outside different branches in Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other parts of the country.
Problems regarding the online link have surfaced on Saturday when nearly half of branches of every bank are shut but the supreme bank overruled the practice for today in light of the forthcoming Eidul Fitr.
According to spokesperson of National Bank of Pakistan, all 1,400 branches across the country are burdened today owing to the upcoming Eid but the online link has been restored.
He further stated that all the pensioners would be entertained by Monday.
It could also be noted here that State Bank had revised timings of the banks during Ramazan and eased the bankers of long working hours.
Read more: Punjab govt employees to get advance salary on June 29
The pensioners have accused that the bank officials is demanding bribe from them in order to withdraw their pensions ahead of Eid.
On the other hand, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has advised all commercial banks to take necessary measures for facilitation of general public, in order to ensure uninterrupted availability of Automated Teller Machine (ATM) services on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.
Read more: SBP to make arrangements for ATM availability during Eid
The ATM sites of commercial banks will be examined by inspectors of State Bank and verification teams of SBP’s Banking Service Corporation (BSC) field offices during the period from July 1, 2016 till July 10, 2016 to verify their operational status.
In view of the extended Eid holidays, banks have also been advised to intimate SBP BSC Field Offices, in advance, about the extra cash that they may need so that adequate arrangements could be made for replenishing their ATMs during Eid Holidays.
Furthermore, banks will also make certain that in addition to ATMs, continuous services are also available on Point of Sale (POS) and other Alternate Delivery Channels (ADC) Channels.
Banks have also been instructed to ensure that dedicated teams from commercial banks are available for timely resolution of ATM related complaints; contact numbers of banks’ Helpline are prominently displayed on ATM vestibules and advertised in print media for the facilitation of general public.
SBP has already instructed all commercial banks to remain open on 2nd and 9th July. Commercial banks will accept financial instruments from their customers on 2nd and 9th July 2016 for normal clearing only and National Institutional Financial Technologies (NIFT) is advised to collect them from branches of commercial banks.
NIFT will process the financial instruments collected on 30th June 2016 and 2nd July 2016 in normal clearing cycle of 4th July 2016. Once the instruments are cleared, the banks will be required to credit respective customer accounts on 4th July 2016 whereas the financial instruments collected by NIFT on 4th July 2016.
