10 December 2011
MUSCAT -- Close on the heels of many banks in Oman expressing their willingness to open holiday branches, HSBC Muscat also has expressed their commitment to customer service and that it would look into all possible avenues to serve its clientele during holidays apart from its extended working hours.
For this, the bank will follow the newer guidelines set by the apex financial institution in Oman, Central Bank of Oman pertaining to such provisions from time to time. Ewan Stirling (pictured), Chief Executive Officer of HSBC said that the bank will take directions from the governing bank regarding this service.
"As always, during the holiday periods such as Eid al Fitr, National Day etc, we are very much directed by the Central Bank of Oman (CBO). CBO, our lead regulator, will announce the respective holiday period closures for all financial institutions in the Sultanate and we will clearly take our direction from them".
He said the HSBC has always looked where at all possible to offer extended opening hours to its customers. "Indeed, currently at one of our major branches we are open until 10 pm during the week and at a further three of our customer service outlets we are open until 9 pm. Offering these extended hours in the evening has been well received by our customers".
Recently, leading banks in the country have opined to the Observer that they would mull over ways of serving their customers during the stretch of holidays to which they the customers were deprived of earlier. Nevertheless, none has arrived at any concrete plan as to when or the modus operandi of the service. For this a regulation from the Central Bank of Oman has been obligatory.
MUSCAT -- Close on the heels of many banks in Oman expressing their willingness to open holiday branches, HSBC Muscat also has expressed their commitment to customer service and that it would look into all possible avenues to serve its clientele during holidays apart from its extended working hours.
For this, the bank will follow the newer guidelines set by the apex financial institution in Oman, Central Bank of Oman pertaining to such provisions from time to time. Ewan Stirling (pictured), Chief Executive Officer of HSBC said that the bank will take directions from the governing bank regarding this service.
"As always, during the holiday periods such as Eid al Fitr, National Day etc, we are very much directed by the Central Bank of Oman (CBO). CBO, our lead regulator, will announce the respective holiday period closures for all financial institutions in the Sultanate and we will clearly take our direction from them".
He said the HSBC has always looked where at all possible to offer extended opening hours to its customers. "Indeed, currently at one of our major branches we are open until 10 pm during the week and at a further three of our customer service outlets we are open until 9 pm. Offering these extended hours in the evening has been well received by our customers".
Recently, leading banks in the country have opined to the Observer that they would mull over ways of serving their customers during the stretch of holidays to which they the customers were deprived of earlier. Nevertheless, none has arrived at any concrete plan as to when or the modus operandi of the service. For this a regulation from the Central Bank of Oman has been obligatory.
© Oman Daily Observer 2011
