Standard Bank takes proactive stance against Covid-19

Tunohole Mungoba
Standard Bank continues to monitor the spread of Covid-19 infections globally and here in Namibia. As we navigate the evolving situation concerning the spread of the virus, we are informed by the need to assertively safeguard the health and safety of our workplace, staff, clients and the communities in which we operate.

We also understand the imperative for us to serve the Namibian public and provide critical services during this difficult time.

In order to reduce the risk to our staff, clients and the general public, as well as minimise disruption to our services, we have taken a number of measures.

Some of these measures include:

· We suspended all cross-border travel on Standard Bank business a week ago.

· Employees are being provided with the necessary information and tools to minimise risks and provide you with the assurance that we are applying the necessary precautionary measures to deal with the potential risks.

· We have instituted the ‘work from home’ provision to lessen the chances of contracting and spreading of the virus from person to person.

· We are increasing the regularity of sanitising our facilities and public spaces, ensuring that they align to World Health Organisation and Ministry of Health guidelines to minimise the risk of potential infection.

· Whenever possible, meetings with external parties are digital.

· Given the risks of infection attached to public spaces, we urge clients to minimise physical meetings and visits to branches and to rather make use of our “cash-less” digital channels such as Internet Banking, Standard Bank App, Mobile banking and PayPulse.

· We take this opportunity to encourage everyone to continue exercising hygiene to assist in the global and national efforts of combating the spread of the virus.

We are engaging other private sector players through the NCCI to mobilise and coordinate our efforts and support in the fight against the further spread of the virus.

We take our responsibility seriously to keep your lives and business on track and our economy going. The crisis provides an opportunity for us to work smarter and use digital technology more actively and more creatively to serve our clients without the risks of contact with other people.

We give our assurance that Standard Bank takes the health and safety of our people seriously. We will thus continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as the situation evolves.

- Issued by Standard Bank Namibia