Kathmandu. The third wave of the Corona epidemic has affected banking and financial services across the country. Not only is the transition rate among bank employees increasing, many branches of banks have had to shut down services after all employees became infected.

A security guard working at the Rastriya Banijya Banijya Bank's Surkhet branch office was confirmed to have contracted corona in the last two months. After the corona infection was confirmed to the employees in the frontline of the bank, other employees were also tested. While testing the corona, other employees also became infected. Rastriya Banijya Bank's Surkhet branch has 18 employees. Repeated tests confirmed infection in 14 of the 18 employees. Although the other four were not confirmed, there were some indications. The office had to close after the corona infection was confirmed in most of them, including the bank's branch head. Branch offices were completely closed for three days. On the fourth day, the bank stated that only a limited number of services were provided with 2/3 employees.

According to the Nepal Bankers Association, 16 branch offices of Rastriya Banijya Bank remained closed due to corona infection. As per the information given by Rastriya Banijya Bank itself, 15 branch offices will remain completely closed on Sunday as well. The Biratnagar and Basantapur branches of State 1 are closed while the Kathuna, Ishwanath, Rajbiraj and Lahan branches of Madhesh State are closed.

Similarly, Bharatpur, Koteshwor, Balambu of Bagmati and Bhachchek, Phalewas, Beni, Kushma, Abukhaireni and Talchowk branch offices of Gandaki are closed on Sunday. The bank has informed through its website that the Mangalsen branch office of Far-Western Province will also be closed on Sunday.

According to Anil Sharma, executive director of the Nepal Bankers' Association, about 6,000 bank employees have been infected till Sunday. As of Thursday, 67 branch offices were completely closed. But on Sunday, it rose to more than 100, said Executive Director Sharma. Banking services from those branch offices have been suspended after the infection was confirmed to all the employees of the bank.

So far, most of the branch offices of Nabil Bank are closed. According to the association, 19 branch offices have been closed due to Corona. Sunday's figures have not been updated. Some branch offices of NIC Asia Bank are also closed. The Chavahil branch office of Prime Commercial Bank is also closed. The branch office of Global IME Bank in Baneshwor had to be closed. These banks are representative only. All the 27 commercial banks in operation are in big trouble due to Corona. Some branches have reached the point of complete closure of services while others are likely to be closed.