Banks to stay open during the holidays

The public need not to worry where to get cash during the holidays as some banks keep select branches open to serve their clients nationwide. The banks have also assured their clients that automated teller machines (ATMs) would remain operational during the holidays. Under Presidential Proclamation No. 1699 signed by President Gloria M. Arroyo, December 24 and 31 are special nonworking days, while Decer 25 and 30 are regular holidays. January 1 or New Year’s Day has been declared a regular holiday under Proclamation 1841. Sy-led Banco de Oro Unibank, Inc., the country’s largest, said in an advisory on Tuesday all its branches would be open on Thursday. "Mall-based branches will be open until 3 p.m. while all other branches are open until 1 p.m.," the bank said. Meanwhile, Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. (Metrobank), the country’s second largest, said in a statement posted on its website that select branches will be open on Dec. 24, 26, 27, 30, 31 and Jan. 1 and 2. "In addition to the branches, Metrobank ATMs nationwide will be available for easy access to cash and for other banking transactions such as bills payment and fund transfer. "Metrophone banking and Metrobankdirect internet banking will also be accessible for various banking transactions," the bank said. Philippine Savings Bank, the thrift banking arm of the Metrobank Group, said in a statement that all its 306 ATMs will be fully operational for the needs of its clients during the holidays. "Our entire ATM network, including 133 offsite ATMs, will be online 24/7 during the Yuletide season. "A dedicated team of PSBank personnel will ensure the availability of cash in these ATMs," Jose Vicente Alde, PSBank branch banking group senior vice president, was quoted as saying in the statement. China Banking Corp. (China Bank), another Sy-led bank, said in a separate statement that select branches will be open on the 24th, 30th and 31st of the month. China Bank said some of the branches open during the holidays may process all the usual banking transactions, while the some will be limited to deposit or withdrawal transactions only. "The bank’s mall branches and other branches regularly open on Saturdays and Sundays will have their usual banking schedule on December 26, 2009 and January 2, 2010, and on December 27, 2009 and January 3, 2010," the bank said. The bank said its ATMs, phone banking and mobile and internet banking facilities will also be available during the holidays. Branches of Ayala-led Bank of the Philippine Islands and its thrift banking subsidiary, BPI Family Savings Bank, however, will not be open during the declared public holidays. BPI is the country’s third largest. "Bank of the Philippine Islands and BPI Family Savings Bank branches will be open to the public and doing business as usual on regular working days, Mondays thru Fridays, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except on declared holidays such as December 24th, 25th, 30th, 31st and on January 1st," the bank said in an email. Its ATMs, mobile banking facility and expressonline are available 24/7 as alternative channels of transaction, the bank added. — Louella D. Desiderio, BusinessWorld