COVID-19 Update: Mauritius enters its second phase of re-opening

As COVID numbers in Mauritius show encouraging trend, the Prime Minister has announced the second phase of re-opening on 1 May 2021 to securely get people back to work and jumpstart the key economic activities.

 

Our main priority has been, and continues to be ensuring a safe working environment for our colleagues, serving our clients, and maintaining operational continuity in the best possible way.  The Bank will continue to act in accordance with guidelines approved by relevant authorities, and wishes to advise on the key changes to its operations as from Monday 03 May 2021:

 

Branch visits

Both our Ebene and Port Louis branches will operate normally from Monday to Friday and the opening hours will be restored to pre-pandemic levels as hereunder:

• Monday to Thursday – 9H to 16H
• Friday – 9H to 17H

 

Local and International Payments

Our cut-off times will be as follows:

Services	Cut-Off Times
Special clearance in MUR (Inward)	13H30
Special clearance in MUR (Outward)	14H00
Cheque clearance in MUR	14H00
Non-Internet Banking - Fund Transfers (MUR & FCY)	15H00
Internet Banking Transactions	16H00

 

The scale of the COVID-19 challenge, whether in Mauritius or abroad, demands a huge collective effort and we, as a systemic bank of this country, are strongly committed to playing our part.

 

We will continue to stay close to developments, and take the necessary action to help protect our employees and customers. These supportive actions will be updated as and when required and the information will be updated on our dedicated COVID-19 page.

 

The Management

 

 

 

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March 2021

 

The authorities in Mauritius have announced a partial lifting of the lockdown as from Wednesday 31 March 2021 but with stringent measures until Friday 30 April 2021 to curb virus spread.

 

The authorities in Mauritius have announced a partial lifting of the lockdown as from Wednesday 31 March 2021 but with stringent measures until Friday 30 April 2021 to curb virus spread. As always, we will continue to adhere to the directives and safety guidelines of the relevant authorities to ensure that our business resumption plan is strictly aligned with the approved recommendations.

 

Branch Visits

 

As it has been the case since the enactment of lockdown, only the Ebene branch will be operational and will be open from Monday to Saturday from 09h30 to 15h00, until further notice. Again, all branch visits will be effected according to the following alphabetical order established by the authorities:

 

• Monday & Thursday: A – F
• Tuesday & Friday: G – N
• Wednesday & Saturday: O – Z

 

 

Local and International payments

 

Our cut-off times will be maintained as follows until further notice:

 

Services	Cut-Off Times (Mauritius time, GMT+4)
Cheque clearance in MUR	12H00
Non-Internet Banking - Fund Transfers (MUR & FCY)	13H00
Internet Banking Transactions (MUR & FCY)	16H00

 

We strongly encourage you to limit branch visits for essential business only and follow the prescribed social distancing and sanitary measures when accessing our premises. We once again reiterate our request to use our digital platforms for all your transactions to enjoy a seamless banking experience from the security and comfort of your home and office.

 

The Management

 

 

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24 March 2021

 

In a statement to the nation on Tuesday 23 March 2021, the Prime Minister of Mauritius has announced the extension of the lockdown till 31 March 2021, with some preliminary guidelines laid down about a phased reopening of some key economic activities scheduled from this same date.

 

As always, the safety and well-being of all our customers, employees and communities remain our prime focus and we are continuously committed to provide you with the best banking experience possible during this challenging time.

 

As announced in a previous communiqué issued on 14 March 2021, only our Ebene branch will be operational with a reduced workforce and will be open to the public in alphabetical order as established by the authorities from 09h30 to 15h00, from Monday to Saturday, until further notice.  Similarly, our cut-off times for payments remain unchanged and will be as per our communiqué dated 14 March 2021.

 

We strongly encourage you to leverage our online banking platforms for your payments and transactions and to keep branch visits for essential business only. The Bank will continue to monitor recommendations from the authorities so that we remain up-to-date on the latest information and safety protocols.

 

The Management

 

 

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14 March 2021

 

 

Reviewed Branch operations and Cut-off times

 

In line with the current lockdown in the country, AfrAsia Bank is making all arrangements to ensure that necessary banking services are made available to you while ensuring that your safety and that of our employees are not compromised. 

 

Branch Visits

 

As from Monday 15 March 2021, only our Ebene branch will remain operational from 09h30 to 15h00 throughout the lockdown period. As reminder, all branch visits will be done according to following the alphabetical order established by the authorities:

 

• Monday & Thursday: A – F
• Tuesday & Friday: G – N
• Wednesday & Saturday: O – Z

 

Your well-being is what matters most. We strongly encourage you to limit branch visits and once again strongly emphasise the importance of our digital platforms to leverage self-service banking from the security and comfort of your home and office.

 

 

Internet Banking, Anytime, Anywhere

 

Our Internet Banking offers a more effective and safer way to bank with us and we encourage you to privilege our online platform to effortlessly access and manage your accounts at any time.  However, COVID-19 scams are also active and you are advised to be vigilant about fraudulent calls, texts, and emails. As a reminder, AfrAsia Bank will never ask for your personal information via email or phone. Learn more

 

 

Local and International payments

 

Please be informed that as from Monday 15 March 2021 until the end of the lockdown, our cut-off times have been revised as follows:

 

Services		Cut-Off Times
Cheque clearance in MUR		12H00
Non-Internet Banking - Fund Transfers (MUR & FCY)		13H00
Internet Banking Transactions (MUR & FCY)		14H00

 

We strongly recommend that instructions for payments are always sent through our Internet Banking Platform, failing which there may be delays in processing the transactions. The Bank is rolling out the required resources to ensure we can readily respond to your banking needs with the same commitment and attention that characterise us, even from afar.

 

We appreciate your cooperation and understanding while we are going through this situation together.

 

The Management

 

 

 

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10 March 2021

 

We have updated our information below on how our branch operations will be conducted amidst this challenging time. 

 
Branch visits

 
Exceptionally, from this Thursday 11 March 2021 to Saturday 13 March 2021, only our Ebene branch will be operational from 10h00 to 13h00.

 
As of Monday 15 March 2021, our branch operating hours will be 09h30 to 15h00 and we will communicate more details on whether both Ebene and Port Louis branches will be open next week. Cut-off times for transfers will also be advised accordingly. 

Visits to our branches, as of tomorrow, will be done in alphabetical order as indicated below:

• Monday & Thursday: A – F
• Tuesday & Friday: G – N
• Wednesday & Saturday: O – Z  

 

In our continuing effort to protect you and our staff, we have put strict hygiene and social distancing measures and mask wearing is compulsory when visiting our branch.

We appreciate your flexibility as the situation progresses and should you require further information, please contact your Relationship Manager who will readily assist you. 

 
The Management

 

 

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10 March 2021

 

Local & International Payments for 10 March 2021

 

Please note that all transactions received through our Internet Banking Platform will be processed as per the following cut off times. Non-internet banking transfers will be processed on an exceptional basis.

 

Cut-off times for payments

Services	Cut-Off Times
Internet- Banking Transactions (MUR & FCY)	14H00
Non-Internet Banking - Fund Transfers (MUR & FCY)	14H00

 

 We strongly recommend that instructions for payments are always sent through our Internet Banking Platform, failing which there may be delays in processing the transactions.

 

We highly  appreciate your cooperation during these times and should you require further information, please contact your Relationship Manager who will readily assist you. 

 

The Management

 

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10 March 2021

 

The Prime Minister of Mauritius, in a televised address this evening, has announced a nationwide lockdown from Wednesday 10 March 2021 at 06H00 (GMT+4) to Thursday 25 March 2021 by pausing all non-essential activities for two weeks in a bid to curb the resurgence of domestic COVID-19 cases.

 
Our preparedness plan has been immediately activated and specific work arrangements have been implemented for our employees, including work from home policies, with a view to maintaining the effectiveness of our operations.

 
Our branches will be exceptionally closed this Wednesday 10 March to comply with the COVID-19 mitigation measures directed by the authorities. Further updates regarding fund transfers and payment cut-off times as well as the branch banking hours, upon re-opening, will be communicated shortly. 

 
With the help of the health authorities, the Mauritius Bankers Association and the Bank of Mauritius, we are continuing to monitor the situation closely and will adapt our measures accordingly, keeping you updated as appropriate via our dedicated page here.

 
We encourage everyone to follow the health and safety guidelines to mitigate the spread of the virus.

The Management

 

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08 March 2021

 

In response to the unexpected resurgence of COVID-19 cases in Mauritius, the Bank is reinstating further resolute and strict health and safety measures, guided by the local authorities, to prioritise the health of our staff and clients while we continue to provide uninterrupted banking services safely and efficiently.

 

Our top priority is our people’s health and safety 

Our hygiene precautions at our bank branches and offices in Port and Ebene will be continuously upheld to keep our facilities germ-free through frequent disinfecting, sanitising of common surfaces and temperature checks to help screen for COVID-19. 


To minimise the risk of exposure, our employees, whose jobs can be accomplished remotely, will be encouraged to work from home. 


Stay safe, bank online

We encourage you to stay safe and manage your finance from the convenience of your home or office.  Our internet banking services remain available round the clock; seven days a week. You can easily monitor account activity, transfer funds and more from anywhere internet access is available. Similarly, we encourage contactless payments to reduce the risk of virus transmission.


Together with the Mauritius Bankers Association and the Bank of Mauritius, we will be monitoring the COVID-19 concern closely and we will remain guided by the strict protocols established should the level of alert get heighten.


We believe our common actions will help mitigate the spread of the virus.

 

The Management