On 13 September, the opening hours of seven branches will be shortened by three hours and will as a result be 12:00-15:00. While general opening hours will be shorter, customers can still make appointments to visit these branches between 10:00-16:00 and book remote meetings until 18:00, meaning that actual service hours remain unchanged. ATMs are accessible around the clock in all these locations.
Bank branches will be reduced by one when the Vesturbær branch in Reykjavík merges into the new branch at Reykjastræti 6.
No terminations accompany these changes and job positions remain the same. As noted above, these changes enter into effect on 13 September.
Opening hours will be 12:00-15:00 all weekdays in the following locations:
- Dalvík
- Grindavík
- Höfn in Hornafjörður
- Húsavík
- Hvolsvöllur
- Ólafsvík
- Reyðarfjörður
Fewer visits to branches, increased activity in app and online banking
These changes are a response to developments in visits to branches which continue to grow fewer and fewer while activity in the app and online banking increases. We continue to add to the number of actions that can be carried out in the app and online banking. Business that requires a physical visit to a bank branch is becoming less and less common.
Employees in rural Iceland provide service regardless of location
Employees in branches in rural Iceland have over the past couple of years increasingly participated in providing advice and service over the phone, email or remote meetings, regardless of the respective location of customers and employee. In 2022, around 60% of booked consultations were handled by employees in rural locations and this year to date, these employees have provided service to over 10,000 customers over the phone. Shorter opening hours will provide these employees with more time to tend to these other duties. Our emphasis on being there for customers throughout Iceland remains unchanged.
Still ATMs in Vesturbær
Visits to the Vesturbær branch have fallen considerably in number in the past few years and the decision has been made to merge that branch into the new branch at Reykjastræti 6, which is scheduled to open on 13 September. Employees who formerly worked in Vesturbær will continue to work for the Bank out of other branches in the capital region. ATMs and other self-service equipment will remain accessible in Vesturbær.
Following these changes, the Bank will operate 35 branches and outlets around Iceland, six thereof in the capital region.
