When you are entering the National Commercial Bank of Anguilla’s building nowadays, there is no need to touch the door. There are two security guards — one on the outside and one on the inside — equipped with gloves and masks, who will courteously do you the service of letting you in, and seeing you out.
And, as you enter the building, the floor “speaks” to you. There are round plastic stickers that are large enough to accommodate both of your feet, saying “Stand Here Please”. These are intermittently placed about six feet apart with arrows between, and they guide the customer straight to the teller or service provider.
Of course, the idea for these measure has come out of the necessity for NCBA to conform to standards of the new “social distancing”, which, over a couple weeks ago has become the norm all over the world, in the wake of observing our responsibility for curtailing the spread of the COVID-19 disease.
The Anguillian had the opportunity to speak with the Bank’s CEO, Ms. Sharmaine Francois, who was pleased to brief the public on NCBA’s social responsibility to its customers in light of the Coronavirus dilemma: “NCBA is the leading financial institution and the island’s only local bank. As such, we saw it necessary to be part of the lead in the efforts to combat the spread of the Coronavirus disease. Thus, in order to ensure the safety of our valued customers, our staff and the community as a whole, we decided to implement and encourage social distancing as one of the many daily practices at the bank. Therefore, from Thursday, March 19th 2020, we implemented the social distancing protocols at both of our branches. The protocols include limiting the number of customers allowed at any given point in the branches to conduct their banking business. A distance of 6 feet between customers and staff is being encouraged. We use a local marketing consultant/expert and printer to create and print the markings which we currently use in our lobbies and assigned seating areas for our senior citizens and pregnant women.”
The CEO continued: “Today, we notice that a number of companies have taken on NCBA’s social distancing practices at their establishments. Notwithstanding that the social distancing measures have impacted the speed with which service is delivered to our customers, they are thankful for the measures that the bank has implemented for their continued protection.
“By this medium, we would continue to encourage our customers to sign up and utilize our alternative banking channels to conduct their banking business, to include online banking, our ATM island-wide, our debit and credit cards to make purchases at our local merchants.
“NCBA is firmly committed to ensuring that our residents remain safe, and we, therefore, encourage the general public to adhere to all health and safety guidelines in an effort to protect ourselves, our families and Anguilla as a whole.”
Just down the road, the Republic Bank, is upholding its responsibilities as well, but its safeguard is merely hinged upon the regulation that only 10 customers are allowed inside the bank at any given time — all in the name of reducing the spread of COVID-19.
Staff Reporter, James R. Harrigan
