Skopje, 12 March 2020
In conditions of global escalation of COVID-19, the National Bank, following the measures for preventing this virus to spread and the practices of international financial institutions and central banking community, has undertaken concrete actions to protect the health of the community, including its employees. These actions and measures have been taken to ensure business continuity. They are aimed to prevent and mitigate the risks posed by the emergence of this new viral infection, for both the National Bank employees and work processes.
Accordingly, besides the activities related to the internal operations management, there are also measures related to the communication and contacts with third parties. Hence, as of today:
- the National Bank Museum, and Library and Archives will be closed to visitors,
- there will not be any visits related to financial education,
- government and government authorities’ payment orders will be received by 11:00 am. Documents for taking cash from the vaults will be available within the regular hours from 13:00 to 14:00 exclusively through the National Bank's archive,
- payment and receipt of foreign currency by authorized persons of the government institutions will be made every working day from 14:00 to 15:00, exclusively through the National Bank’s archive,
- Credit Registry data reports will be issued only on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 15:00 to 16:00, exclusively through the National Bank's archive.
- third parties who wish to replace damaged banknotes, buy numismatic banknotes and coins, and buy collector coins will be welcomed only on Monday, from 12:00 to 13:00.
The National Bank regularly analyzes the risk of the spread of COVID-19. These rules will be modified as required.
In order to protect public health, we also appeal for:
- use of payment cards rather than cash,
- reduced visits to commercial bank windows/branches, including savings houses and exchange offices and use of electronic, mobile and telephone banking,
- any question, consultation or correspondence to the National Bank to be made via the National Bank e-mail: [email protected], website, social networks or telephone numbers 02/3108 108; 02/3108 219; 02/3108 212 rather than in person at the National Bank. For inquiries in the domain of the National Bank’s Statistics Department, communication can be done via e-mail [email protected]. For information related to international credit operations you may contact the following telephone numbers: 02/3215-235, ext. 123, 128, 120, 129, 126, 121 or 125. For information regarding Annual Reports VS22 and VS11 you may contact the following telephone numbers: 3108-372, 3108-421, 3108-537, 3108-427 or 3108-266.
As a central bank and financial regulator, we have already contacted the commercial banks and communicated these recommendations and guidance for managing operational risks for the purposes of reducing any contingencies.
We have already taken additional internal measures such as canceling the participation of the National Bank employees at conferences, seminars and trainings courses organized by third parties and cancelling all events organized by the National Bank, including meetings with third parties.
We appeal for adherence to the preventive measures and recommendations announced by the competent institutions.
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