Sinuiju authorities have recently begun improving the city’s banking services after complaints were made by bank customers, Daily NK has learned.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a Daily NK source in North Pyongan Province said Sinuiju’s authorities “are trying to create trustworthy banks by lending an ear to opinions from bank customers and quickly accepting those opinions.”
He added that this was in response to the “Workers’ Party bank service policy, which calls for banks to win public trust.”
The source said Sinuiju had rolled up its sleeves to improve public faith in the banks because several complaints had recently been raised over bank services in the city.
In late April, some Sinuiju residents could not withdraw money when they wanted because ATMs were not functioning correctly. When they asked the banks about this, officials said that the banks either lacked cash or told them to “wait a couple of days because they were following orders from above.” In the end, the banks’ customers could not withdraw money.
Other people were unable to take care of their bank business because bank staff had shut their doors early and gone home, the source said.
“Angry residents who went to the banks over several days but still could not withdraw money eventually complained to the city’s party committee,” he explained. “With public faith in the banks collapsing as complaints arose everywhere, the city’s party committee finally stepped in.”
The party committee quickly took measures, including suspending problematic bank officials for two months. During this time, they were told to perform various chores in their banks, such as cleaning.
The party committee also announced its top priority would be improving bank services so that people could withdraw or deposit money whenever they wanted.
The party committee even pledged to work ceaselessly to improve public convenience at banks and ensure — as much as possible — that customers receive the services they desire by listening to their opinions.
“The party committee’s pledge to encourage the public to open new accounts or use various bank services such as savings, transfers and withdrawals with trust aims to raise faith in the banks,” the source said.
“People responded positively to the city’s party committee actively responding to improve the bank services system,” he continued, adding: “Faith in the banks is gradually recovering, with people saying that if the banks allowed them to withdraw money at any time, there would be nothing stopping them from making high-interest deposits.”
Translated by David Black. Edited by Robert Lauler.
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May 14, 2024 at 07:30AM
by DailyNK(North Korean Media)