Kumari Bank to Remain Open on Monday for Essential Banking Services

6th October 2025, Kathmandu

The announcement by Kumari Bank Limited to maintain operations on Monday, Ashoj 20, 2082 (October 6, 2025), is a proactive measure aimed at ensuring essential financial continuity for its clientele during a period that is typically marked by public holidays in Nepal, especially given the proximity to the major festive season of Dashain.

Kumari Bank Remains Open

This decision aligns with the growing trend among commercial banks in Nepal to operate designated branches during national festivals and holidays to support critical economic activities and meet immediate customer needs.

Here is a comprehensive breakdown and analysis of the information provided, expanding on the context and implications:

1. Continuation of Customer Service on a Public Holiday

The core of the announcement is the bank’s commitment to continued service on a day that would otherwise see a near-total shutdown of general business operations. The date, Monday, Ashoj 20, 2082 (October 6, 2025), falls shortly after the official Dashain holiday period (which typically concludes around Ashoj 18/October 4 for 2082 B.S.). Maintaining operations on such a day is a strategic move to address the surge in banking needs that often arises immediately before, during, and right after the long festival closures.

Operating Hours: The specified timeframe of 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. is a common schedule for banks operating on public holidays in Nepal. These limited hours ensure the provision of essential services while acknowledging the holiday status for staff. For comparison, normal banking hours are typically longer, often from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

2. Essential Banking Services and Payment Systems

The bank is ensuring the availability of essential banking services. While the notice does not explicitly list all services, common essential services provided by banks on public holidays in Nepal generally include:

• Cash Deposits and Withdrawals (a high-demand service during festivals).
• Cheque Clearance (for urgent business or large-value payments).
• Foreign Exchange (often limited to key branches).
• ATM services (maintenance and cash loading).
• General customer inquiries.

Crucially, the bank has specifically confirmed the continued function of key payment and settlement systems:

ECC (Electronic Cheque Clearing): This ensures that cheques deposited or presented can be processed without significant delay, which is vital for business transactions and large-value payments.

IPS (Interbank Payment System): This allows for low-value electronic fund transfers between different bank accounts in real-time or near real-time, facilitating quick consumer-to-consumer or business-to-consumer payments.

RTGS (Real-Time Gross Settlement): This is for high-value fund transfers, offering immediate, irrevocable, and final settlement between banks. Its operation is essential for major commercial transactions, government revenue collection, and interbank liquidity management.

Clearing Services: This refers to the overall process of exchanging payment instructions between banks and settling the resulting obligations.

The continuation of these critical national payment infrastructure components, often mandated by the central bank (Nepal Rastra Bank) during holidays, underscores the commitment to keeping the financial system liquid and operational for urgent commercial and personal needs.

3. Customer Support and Digital Banking Emphasis

Contact Information: Providing the contact number 01-5970499 for customer queries is a key element of the announcement, offering a direct channel for urgent assistance outside of standard business days. This demonstrates a clear focus on customer support even with limited branch operations.

Digital Banking Promotion: The encouragement for clients to use the digital banking system is a standard and increasingly vital part of banking operations during holidays. Digital channels, including mobile banking apps, internet banking, and ATMs, provide:

24/7 Availability: Transactions can be completed at any time, circumventing the limited 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. branch window.

Convenience and Safety: Customers can manage their finances from home, avoiding physical travel and potential crowds at branches, which is particularly relevant during a major festival.

Full Service Access: Most non-cash transactions (transfers, bill payments, balance inquiries, etc.) can be performed digitally, greatly reducing the need for in-person visits for ‘essential banking services.’

4. Broader Industry Context

The decision by Kumari Bank Limited is consistent with the standard operating procedures of commercial banks in Nepal during major holiday periods like Dashain and Tihar. Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), the central regulatory body, typically directs commercial banks to keep designated branches open on all but the main festival days (like Vijaya Dashami itself, which may fall a few days earlier for 2082 B.S.) to ensure that critical transactions, especially those related to revenue collection, customs, and emergency personal funds, can proceed. Banks often rotate branches or select key metropolitan/commercial area branches to staff these “Holiday Counters.”

In summary, the announcement by Kumari Bank Limited is a clear and helpful communication to its customers, informing them of the limited but crucial services available on Monday, Ashoj 20, 2082. It assures the public that for urgent needs, especially those requiring the settlement of funds through major national payment systems like ECC, IPS, and RTGS, the necessary infrastructure will be in place, while simultaneously promoting the use of digital channels for maximum convenience. This practice is essential for mitigating the economic disruption caused by national holidays.

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