Customers who refuse to wear a face covering inside HSBC branches will be refused service and could have their accounts closed, the bank says.
The banks head of branch network for the UK said bank workers ‘deserve respect and should not have to face violent or abusive behavior’ and encouraged customers to stay home and use HSBC’s digital channels rather than going out to the bank.
Other banks have come out in support of refusing to serve customers who enter without wearing a face covering but no others have threatened account closures for those that failed to comply.
Speaking to The Mirror Jackie Uhi, head of branch network, HSBC UK said that the company ‘reserves the right to withdraw’ the accounts of any customer who won’t wear a face mask.
She said: ‘Sadly, some people are failing to protect themselves, our branch colleagues and other customers by refusing to wear a face covering inside our branches or observe social distancing.
‘Our colleagues deserve respect and should not have to face violent or abusive behaviour. Consider whether you need to visit the branch or could manage your banking from the safety of your home via our digital channels.
‘If you do visit us, please wear a face covering and maintain a safe distance from others. If individuals put themselves or our colleagues at risk, without a medical exemption, we reserve the right to withdraw their account.’
What the actual fuck! Also how do you prove an “exemption”? Plus I didn’t think we were turning into the United Kingdom Of North Korea