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"This bank card has been locked because there has been no transaction for a long time.

When planning to take a weekend break

Go to a bank counter near my home to unlock it

I didn’t expect it to be closed today.”

Maybe many people have had

Similar experience to office worker Zhou Yun

recently

The reporter visited the main urban area of ​​Harbin

Different business outlets of major commercial banks

DiscoveryHarbin Commercial Bank

Most outlets have cancelled their 7-day operation system.

Open 6 days a week

Becoming a “standard feature” of bank branches

"Personal business: Monday to Friday, Sunday, 8:30 to 16:30, closed on Saturday..." The Construction Bank Xiangfang Street Branch posted such information at the door. The China Everbright Bank Xiangfang Branch also posted a message saying "Closed on Sundays" at the door.

Yanfu StreetIt is the core area of ​​Anbu Business District in Xiangfang District. This street is home to many bank branches including ICBC, CCB, ABC, BOC, SPDB, Everbright, and Longjiang.Most of the banks on this street are open six days a week., but some banks are closed on Saturdays, while others are closed on Sundays; only the Agricultural Bank of China and Longjiang Bank can handle personal business 7 days a week.The reporter also visited some bank branches in Daoli District and Nangang District, and found that most of them also operate six days a week.

Although we are closed on Sunday or Saturday,Different branches of the same bank will coordinate their closing times with each other.For example, one branch of a large state-owned bank is closed on Saturdays, but another branch closer to this branch will be closed on Sundays to meet the business needs of surrounding users.

The reporter learned during the interview thatCommercial banks breaking the seven-day operating model is not unique to Harbin. It is currently a common phenomenon in cities across the country and even abroad.

Some people expressed understanding

Some people feel inconvenienced

"For example, basic personal services such as deposits, withdrawals, and transfers can be handled on machines at bank branches. Only a very small number of services must be handled at the counter, such as opening an account and reporting a loss." A bank counter staff member said that with the development of information technology and the use of more online equipment,Most counter services can actually be handled by yourselfNo need to queue up at the counter.So now the bank counter business hours have been gradually shortened.As a bank counter employee, he found that the public's demand for counter services is also decreasing significantly.

but,Some office workers felt inconvenienced."I only have one day off a week, Sunday, so I go to the branch to do business, but the bank near my home is closed. One time, my bank card password was locked, so I had to take a two-stop bus to another branch nearby to unlock it. Not only was the journey far, but there were also a lot of people, which was a waste of time and energy."

Some older people are more tolerant of banks closing on weekends.Mr. Li, who lives in Anbu Community, said: "It is understandable that banks are closed on weekends. We old people don't have to work on weekdays, so we go to the bank to handle business on weekdays. We don't know how to use the bank's electronic business now. When we go to the branch, there are staff to help us with the process, and their attitude is also very good."

Between reducing costs and increasing efficiency and meeting needs

Find the greatest common divisor

Why do banks shorten their business hours? According to industry insiders, the business of commercial bank branches is mainly divided into corporate business and personal business. The business hours for corporate business are unified from Monday to Friday, and only personal business is required during the weekend.From a purely commercial perspective, bank branches opening on Saturdays and Sundays to handle personal services such as deposits and withdrawals, password resets, etc. will not bring much profit to the bank, and it will also have to pay more labor and water and electricity costs.

But at the same time, he also believes that banks are responsible for providing basic financial services to the public and cannot formulate business models simply from a cost accounting perspective.It is best to find a balance between reducing costs and increasing efficiency and meeting customer needs.

During the interview, the public respondents also put forward some suggestions.

“I think bank branches can be closed on weekends, but at the same time they can appropriately extend their business hours on weekdays., so that office workers can also handle business after get off work. ” Citizen Zhou Yun suggested,Banks can also choose to close on a certain day during the working week and open normally on Saturdays and Sundays.。

Ms. Zhao, a citizen, said: "Some people insist on going to the branches to handle business because they think it is safer. I think banks should further promote electronic service channels so that more users are willing to choose to handle business online."

SourcePhoto by Harbin Daily reporter Huo Liangwen