How are Armenian banks responding to the problems caused by the new coronavirus pandemic, COVID-19? What is being done to support customers and protect their health? Artak Hanesyan, General Director of Ameriabank, answered these questions of EADaily.com information agency.
- Your bank is the leader in Armenia in terms of key financial indicators. How does the largest bank of the republic respond to the problems that arose among its customers as a result of the coronavirus pandemic?
Taking into account the problems faced by the business community as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, as well as avoiding the accumulation of people in bank branches, in order to ensure the safety of our customers, we decided to inform all our customers who are individuals and sole proprietors. from March 13 to May 13 to provide a "credit holiday". During the specified period, they may not make regular repayments of their loans, including principal amounts, accrued interest, service and other fees, which will not have a negative impact on the customer's credit history. All outstanding amounts will be calculated and redistributed over the following six months according to a new schedule that customers can receive via their pre-selected communication method. I would like to mention that the bank has assumed all costs and no interest will be accrued on the redistributed amounts.
We also provide an individual approach to companies in the tourism, hotel and public catering sectors that are in a vulnerable situation. Since this year from March 16, they can postpone repayment of principal amounts of their loans for 3-6 months. Any outstanding amount will be calculated and redistributed over the remaining months of the loan.
Due to the shutdown of large shopping centers, we had to close our branches operating in these shopping centers. All other branches work with standard working hours. And, being a bank developed in the direction of digital banking, we offer our customers a wide range of online services. We catered to our customers and made these services free.
- And what steps does the bank take to protect the health of its employees?
Maintaining a healthy and positive team atmosphere is a very important component and value of our business. In order to protect the safety and health of our employees and customers, we continuously disinfect all areas and actively maintain hygiene rules. The safety and health of our employees is of primary importance to our operations. All meetings, trainings and interviews for employment purposes are conducted remotely. Working rooms are constantly disinfected and ventilated, employees are provided with protective masks, gloves and disinfectants every day.
For security reasons and as a result of reduced business activity, more than 50% of workers do not come to work, but are paid in full. Although we had the option of declaring forced unemployment and partial pay for the work, we decided to pay the salary in full while also preserving the full vacation days available to the employees.
We are glad that in the difficult situation that has arisen for all of us, our employees actively contribute to ensuring business continuity, and all the created working groups operate in an operative and dynamic mode. I would like to thank them for their united and selfless work during this difficult period. I am sure that thanks to the unity, only our people will be able to overcome the problems caused by the coronavirus pandemic all over the world.
The link to the EADaily.com news agency interview is here.