Since 24 February regional offices of “Halkbank” have been accepting “Visa” foreign currency deposits only from parents of study-abroad students.
According to correspondents of “Chronicles of Turkmenistan”, on 1 March, 2021 only three customers of “Halkbank” in Dashoguz were able to credit their foreign currency accounts.The others in the queue were informed that, pursuant to instructions from Ashgabat, no cash would be accepted until further notice.
Among people standing in the queue were those who had a customer identification number for 23 January but they were being serviced only that date
On 27 February those customers who wished to credit their “Visa” card foreign currency accounts were informed that identification numbers would be issued in the evening of 28 February. On the date set people had to come to the bank office to credit their account.
Customers started queuing up in front of the bank at 6 a.m. on 28 February. Those who joined the queue at midday were too late to get a customer identification number. Those who came earlier received two customer ID numbers: for March and April. The earliest date indicated was 12 March.
Because of the frequent suspension of foreign currency transactions by the banks, customer visits are rescheduled to later dates than those indicated on the customer ID number.
Bank employees have not yet speculated the limit which can be deposited to the account on the grounds that updated instructions might be issued in Ashgabat before 12 March.
Previously, a maximum monthly limit of $100 was allowed to be credited to the account.
A local office of “Senegat” bank which used to service up to 60 VISA card holders a day, has been servicing about 20 to 25 customers a day in the past few weeks.
According to reports from Ashgabat, a comprehensive inspection is being undertaken in the Bank for Development and Foreign Economic Affairs since 1 March.The post “Halkbank” in Dashoguz no longer accepts foreign currency deposits to VISA cards first appeared on Chronicles of Turkmenistan.