Massachusetts communities saw more changes at bank branches Tuesday as the spread of the coronavirus continued.
Bank branches throughout the state have closed, with some offering services at drive-up windows only and others shutting down entirely.
Avidia Bank late last week had closed two branches for cleaning through the weekend as a precaution due to the coronavirus outbreak. The two branches offered services only at drive-up windows on Monday, and on Tuesday, all Avidia branch lobbies closed, with only the drive-up windows staffed.
Other banks on Monday, including Cape Cod Five and Lowell Five Bank, also offered only drive-up window services.
Tuesday saw additional banks convert to drive-up only services, including Cambridge Savings Bank, Reading Cooperative Bank, Canton Cooperative and Holyoke-based PeoplesBank.
Middlesex Savings Bank plans to close on Wednesday, offering drive-up services at their more than 20 branches with window service available. Seven branches without drive-up services will close down altogether.
Pittsfield-based Greylock Federal Credit Union closed its Lenox and Lanesboro branches Tuesday and started decreasing access to the lobbies at its other branches.
Wellseley Bank is offering drive-up services at one branch and designated two other branches as open for appointments only. The bank’s other branches have closed.
Staff at many closed branches are making appointments to meet with customers. Banks also are accommodating customers who need to retrieve items from safe deposit boxes.
Along with encouraging customers to use online and mobile services, banks with interactive teller machines (ITMs) are reminding customers about them. Cambridge Savings Bank has ITMs at its Inman Square, Porter Square and Charlestown branches. PeoplesBank has ITMs at all but one of its locations.
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency issued guidance last Friday to banks that need to temporarily close or reduce access to a facility because of staffing challenges or to take precautionary measures.
The OCC encouraged banks to provide alternative service options when practical in order to reduce disruptions to their customers. The regulator said affected facilities should be reopened when it is safe to do so.
Call centers are also being used as an alternative service option, though some are reporting high volumes. Berkshire Bank on its website encouraged customers who could not wait on hold to submit an online form requesting a call back from the bank.
