Banks to continue services during Eid

Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA) has ordered banks operating in Makkah and Madinah regions to continue providing services to pilgrims and Umrah performers during Eid Al-Adha holidays.
Makkah and Madinah regions have 454 bank branches spread over all provinces and highways leading to the two holy cities which are primarily meant to serve pilgrims, Umrah performers and visitors, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said.
Makkah region alone has 377 bank branches whereas Madinah has 77 branches, SPA reported quoting data released by SAMA.
SAMA’s directives also cover banks operating at airports and border entry points to work during Haj and Eid al-Adha holidays and provide normal banking services.
Based on SAMA data released at the end of the second quarter of the current year, the number of banks and branches in the Kingdom is estimated at 1,669, of which Makkah and Madinah regions have 454 branches. The number of ATMs stood at 12,150 sets working on the 24-hour basis.
Historically, Saudi banks are proud to provide outstanding services to pilgrims, Umrah performers and visitors during their stay in the Kingdom through using up-to-date technologies consistent with international banking standards which allow customers conduct transactions easily and smoothly through traditional or electronic means.
On the other hand, there are many money exchange offices and firms in the Kingdom licensed to convert money carried by pilgrims and Umrah performers into Saudi riyals in accordance with the applicable currency exchange rates. Money exchange offices are normally located in areas where are mostly visited by pilgrims who will be allowed to convert their currencies into riyals in light of SAMA directives.


Saudi banks allow transfer of currencies to foreign countries through banks cooperating with them. Such transactions are carried out by either traditional or electronic means.
In a related development, Rajhi Bank (RB) announced that it will continue providing banking services through 106 branches Kingdom-wide during Eid holidays.
The allocation of a such number of branches demonstrates RB’s keenness to serve customers who may need help and consult on any transaction that requires a visit to the branch, an RB official was quoted as saying.
Customers are allowed to use more than 3,255 ATM sets on the round-the-o’clock basis in addition to more than 23,596 points of sales (POSs) available at commercial centers in all parts of the Kingdom, he said.
All branches working at King Khalid International Airport (Riyadh), King Abdulaziz International Airport (Jeddah), King Fahad International Airport (Dammam), and Prince Mohammed International Airport (Madinah) will continue work on 24-hour basis during Eid holidays, he noted.
Similarly, the National Commercial Bank (NCB) announced it will continue to serve customers and pilgrims through 26 branches and 1,885 ATM sets during Eid holidays.
NCB branches working during Eid will cover all regions of the Kingdom but those branches at the international airports in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam will work on the 24-hour basis, an NCB official was quoted as saying. Earlier, NCB extended working hours in four branches in Makkah and Madinah to provide banking services to pilgrims and customers.
Meanwhile, Bank Al-Jazirah said it will continue serving customers and pilgrims during Eid holidays in certain branches in Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah, Riyadh, and Dammam. However, customers could avail banking services through its ATMs and other electronic services such as phone-banking and “jazirah-on-line” services, a bank official said.