During the vibrant Dashain festival, a time when Nepal traditionally slows down to celebrate with family and cultural rituals, an essential service continues to hum with activity. Commercial banks across the nation are making a concerted effort to keep their doors open, ensuring that customers can access financial services even amidst the holiday fervor. This initiative stands out as a testament to the banking sector’s dedication to convenience, particularly during a period when cash withdrawals and transactions often spike due to festive spending. While many businesses shutter for the season, starting from Phulpati, these financial institutions are strategically maintaining operations in select branches to cater to both urban and rural populations. The commitment reflects an understanding of the critical role banking plays, even during national holidays, as people prepare for celebrations that often require immediate access to funds.
Balancing Festive Spirit with Financial Access
The operational strategy during Dashain showcases a thoughtful distribution of open branches across Nepal’s diverse provinces, from Koshi to Sudurpaschim. Banks like Nabil, with 31 branches operational, and Sanima, boasting an impressive network of 88 locations, are leading the charge in ensuring widespread coverage. Global IME Bank follows suit with 60 branches, adjusting schedules on significant days like Maha Ashtami, while others, such as Nepal Investment Mega Bank, maintain a steady presence with 22 branches. Even smaller operations, like Nepal Bank with just three branches focused on customs services, contribute to this accessibility. This geographic spread prioritizes key urban centers like Kathmandu in Bagmati Province, which alone hosts multiple branches for banks like Nabil with 14 locations. Yet, the inclusion of remote regions like Karnali demonstrates a broader vision of inclusivity, ensuring that financial services reach beyond city limits during a time of heightened need for cash and transactions.
Tailored Approaches to Meet Diverse Needs
Reflecting on the varied approaches, it is clear that each bank tailored its operations to balance holiday downtime with customer demands during Dashain. Kumari Bank mirrored Nabil’s strategy by keeping 31 branches active, while Laxmi Sunrise Bank and Agricultural Development Bank focused on strategic locations, the latter operating 17 branches on Phulpati. Prabhu Bank, with 18 branches, opted for limited hours between 10:00 AM and 1:30 PM, catering to essential transactions. Machhapuchchhre Bank adopted a dynamic schedule, varying open branches from 10 on Phulpati to none on Tika day, resuming with 7 the next day. This diversity in execution, from expansive networks to minimalistic setups, highlighted how banks adapted to their operational capacities and customer demographics. The unified goal remained steadfast—to facilitate financial access during a culturally significant period, ensuring that whether in bustling cities or quieter provinces, the public’s festive needs were met with responsive service.
