Israel Bank informed the banks they will be able to reduce reception hours

The Bank of Israel has informed the banks and credit companies that they will be able to reduce reception hours at branches starting on Tuesday. This is a temporary order from March 2020, which was not revoked but updated again, "due to the spread of the coronavirus 'omicron strain and the significant increase in morbidity and in order to maintain workers' health and public health," the Bank Supervisor said in a statement. It was also written that the step was also taken for fear of harming the workers' situation due to an increase in morbidity, which would not allow all the branches to open.
Banks may now require customers to make an appointment in advance, with senior citizens being able to arrive without making an appointment in advance. Banking corporations need to make sure that the queuing process is efficient, simple and fast and that the waiting times for receiving the service are reasonable. The companies will post on their websites the need to make an appointment in advance and the customer segments and the service for which there is no need to make an appointment.
The reduction in the reception hours will be possible "provided that the rate of branches open to the public is not less than 80%. In order to enable continuity in the provision of banking services to the general public, banks will ensure a frontal response The public branches, given the proper geographical distribution of the branches and their ability to provide banking services to a wide public of customers. "
They must specify on the door of each branch that closes the details of the branch receiving the nearest audience and the telephone number of the call center of the banking corporation and also publish on the website and other means that will select its list branches that are open to the public.
Banks must notify customers of the change as soon as possible and also inform them of the alternatives available to them for receiving the banking service. The announcement by the Bank of Israel comes after many authorities in the country announced a reduction in the reception of the public in the branches due to the spread of the corona, including the Tax Authority, the Employment Service, the Social Security and the Electric Company.