Egyptian Banks Consider Closing Branches Tomorrow On Port Said Violence

Banks’ board of directors in Egypt will hold meetings to discuss the possible methods of guarding their branches and closing down those nearby to clashes that take place in Egypt especially in Port Said which witnesses violent clashes after sentencing 21 defendants to death for taking part in riots at a football match in Port Said. 

Mohamed Abbas Fayed, deputy chairman of Banque Misr, said the current events negatively affect economy and thereby the people. Banque Misr has not taken a decision to close its branches in Port Said yet, but it will decide upon this matter by the end of the day.

Ayman Tolan, head of branches of the National Bank of Egypt (NBE), stated that the bank issued instructions to its branches in Port Said to take the necessary security measures if chaos intensifies. NBE’s officials follow up the current events to take the suitable measures for keeping the customers’ funds safe and securing the bank’s buildings, he added. The bank will hold an urgent meeting to discuss the situation and decide whether to shut down its branches in Port Said or not.

22 people were killed and 200 were injured in violent clashes between people and police officers in Port Said following a court verdict sentencing 21 to death for their roles in a riot at a football game in Port Said that left 74 people dead.