JPMorgan Chase told its employees today it will be closing about 20% of its branches starting tomorrow. A Chase spokesperson told Bank Innovation the move would “help us protect our employees as we provide essential services to our customers and the communities we serve.” 

The closures come at a time when banks are increasingly promoting their digital and remote capabilities to minimize customer and employee exposure to the spreading novel coronavirus.  

Branches with teller partition glass and drive-up stations are not affected by the closures. The remaining 4,000 branches will remain open with normal business functions, but with reduced hours of 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. starting today. Most open branches have teller partition glass or drive-up capabilities, according to the spokesperson.  

See also: Banks promote digital channels as pandemic keeps customers from branches  

Even the open branches will see reduced staff, as Chase advisers will begin working from home starting tomorrow to reduce the number of employees on site. Working from home will be financial advisers, small business bankers and home lending advisers. According to Chase, the bank will still have plenty of coverage in all communities, including low- and middle-income communities. 

Employees in the closed branches and those with reduced hours will continue to be paid for their regular hours. Chase is giving employees two additional paid days off, and employees have until June to use leftover vacation days from 2019. Employees can also start dressing casually tomorrow, including T-shirts and sneakers. Chase is also offering free meals through its cafes to employees on site, and the bank is working on a way to feed employees at locations that do not have on-site cafes. 

Open branches have hand sanitizer at main entrances, transaction lines and reception areas, and the bank will send a team of specialized cleaners within one hour to any branch with a confirmed or highly likely case of coronavirus. 

“So many of our customers are elderly, vulnerable or just simply anxious,” said Thasunda Brown Duckett, CEO of Chase consumer banking, in a message to employees. “Please take care of yourself, and if you are sick or at risk, stay home.”

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