Following the spread of the new coronavirus COVID-19 worldwide, Oriental Bank has announced the measures it will be taking starting today for the health and safety of its customers and employees. Oriental urges their clients to use available technology to make banking transactions instead of visiting the branches.
“Our clients and employees are our priority, and for this reason, we are responsibly taking the necessary measures to guarantee their safety. The operations hours of our branches will be reduced, and we will be implementing rules that help prevent the spread of this virus,” said José Rafael Fernández, president and CEO of Oriental.
Oriental branches will be open to the public at 8:30 a.m. and close at 1 p.m.; the drive-thru will be operating from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m., Mondays through Fridays. On Saturdays, the branch lobby and drive-thru will operate from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. To ensure the safety of clients, access to branches will be controlled and guided by the employees. Antibacterial hand sanitizer will be offered to every customer visiting the branch.
Implemented last week, Oriental Bank has increased the cleaning frequency in its branches and main buildings. It has also increased the number of antibacterial products available in the common areas of each premises, including the network of branches in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. As an additional preventative measure, the bank is providing a cleaning kit and antibacterial products to its branches’ employees along with educational materials on prevention and preparedness.
Fernández affirms that “we encourage our customers to take advantage of the convenience of using the digital channels that we have available to facilitate the management of their accounts. Mobile Banking and Online Banking solutions allow them to access their bank accounts without having contact with other people and therefore reduce the possibility of any contagion.”
Among the alternative services clients have at their disposal are:
- Online Banking and Mobile Banking – Access your accounts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Customers can check balances, make payments and transfer funds.
- Cash Management – Commercial customers can access their accounts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, verify balances, make payments, process fund transfers, process ACH transactions, and make deposits and collections remotely.
- Drive-thru Lanes at the Branches – If customers need to make a deposit, payment, or money withdrawal, they can use this option on Mondays thru Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For updates on branch hours and services visit www.orientalbank.com.
- Phone Customer Service Center – This service center operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and customers can check balances, make payments, transfer funds between accounts, and verify the status of their transactions and paid checks.
o Customers with accounts originating from the former Scotiabank can call 787-766-4999, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Commercial Customer Service Center – Continue to contact your relationship officer if you need assistance for POS or Cash Management.
o Customers can call 693-9741, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Make Loans Payments Online:
o Customers with accounts originating from Scotiabank can do so through Web Payment – this service allows you to make online payments for personal loans, cars and car leases, even if you do not have a deposit account with Oriental Bank. Access through www.orientalbank.com.
