PNB shortens operating hours amid surge in COVID-19 cases

The Philippine National Bank (PNB) will shorten its operating hours for the next three weeks as confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country continue to surge.

In an advisory released Sunday, the PNB said its operating hours will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. starting Monday, March 22 until April 16, 2021.

"We encourage our clients to plan their banking transactions accordingly," the advisory read, noting that its internet banking and mobile banking services will continue to be available.

The statement comes a day after the Philippines reported 7,999 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 its highest daily tally to date. This brings the total to 656,056 which includes 80,642 active cases; 562,484 recoveries; and 12,930 deaths.

PNB has 1,721 automated teller machines and cash accept machines which will also continue to be available moving forward.

The latest data available from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) shows that PNB was the fifth-largest bank in the Philippines as of September 2020, with P1.025 trillion worth of assets.

Its principal commercial banking services include deposit-taking, lending, trade financing, foreign exchange dealings, bill discounting, fund transfers/remittance servicing, asset management, treasury operations, trust services, retail banking, and other related financial services.

Shares in PNB closed last Friday at P23.25 apiece, down by 5 centavos or 0.21% from the previous day's P23.30 apiece. — DVM, GMA News