Buenos Aires city. The number of customers in the banks fell and some closed at the usual time

Yesterday, on the day after
new official restrictions for the purchase of the dollar, the banking day was developed in a climate of tranquility, today in the banks there was already something that on Monday was very difficult to find: empty chairs in the waiting rooms. Although the intense flow of clients continued and the concentration of the operations in the withdrawal of savings in dollars, in the branches of the Buenos Aires center there were no longer long lines and it seemed to have diminished, if not the worry, at least the anxiety.

"Yesterday the line arrived at the Pyramid of May. Now there are enough people because it is lunchtime, but in the morning it was very quiet," he told
THE NATION Nancy, the woman in charge of delivering the numbers for the boxes at the headquarters of the National Bank, located steps from the Casa Rosada. The lower demand of the public allowed, in fact, anticipated that the bank closed at the usual time, despite the resolution of the Central Bank that enabled the possibility of keeping the doors open until 17.
Beyond the climate of greater tranquility, the operation carried out today was strictly linked to widespread distrust in recent weeks: customers approach banks, especially to withdraw their savings in dollars or access safe deposit boxes. Anyway, the usual procedures also continue their course, even more in a week to which many people received accreditation of their salary or having a month's pension.

"I want my dollars!", Jokes a young man when he approaches Nancy, at the National Bank, to ask for a number for the box. "Go on, get a little angry that I get bored," she replies, in the same tone. "Yesterday there were a lot of people, but it was quiet. There were no nervous or violent people," the employee later told the newspaper. He also said that the waiting time to withdraw the dollars, around 13.30, was not more than one hour. "If you come with the card and the pin, take them out right away. The problem is that they don't bring it," he told a customer.

Like yesterday,
Trucks flowed with unusual frequency through the streets of the microcenter, mainly from the three companies that dominate the local market: Prosegur, Brinks and Loomis. It is that in order to respond to the increased demand of savers who since last week decided to withdraw their savings from the bank it was necessary to increase the amount of banknotes in the branches.

A day without complications

Although in recent days the number of people on the street has increased with money, at the 1st police station, located in Lavalle and San Martín, in the center of Buenos Aires, they informally told this newspaper that there were no atypical events nor did they register an increase in crimes.

The Central Bank announced last Sunday that "entities may keep their branches open until 17 to meet the needs of customers during the month of September." Yesterday the banking union issued a statement that clarified that the extension of two hours in customer service is an "optional" decision and "only, if necessary, for a period of one week."
In a tour of different banking entities of the city of Buenos Aires, a very heterogeneous situation was noticed. The National Bank, which opened until 5pm yesterday, had decided today to resume its usual schedule and at the headquarters of the Superville and Macro bank, they planned to close at 3pm, just like Monday.

In the BBVA bank, Hipotecario, Galicia, Credicoop, HSBC, Santander and Patagonia the answer was that they would keep open, just like yesterday, until 17. "Only for extraction in the boxes," they clarified in some cases.

The decision is made "day by day" and most employees find out about the time. According to the sources consulted by
THE NATION, it will remain so for at least the next few days. The schedules of the branches will accompany the needs of the clients.
Anyway, at a branch of the Patagonia bank located on Corrientes Street, they pointed out that in the two extra hours of attention they provided yesterday, only five clients entered. "For me that people do not know that it is open. Today, if the ball was run, maybe more will come," said the security guard.
After noon, the "trees" on Florida Street offered dollars at $ 63. "Look it's a good number," one tempted. "Yesterday they sold for no less than $ 66, $ 67." In formal exchange houses, the flow of clients was normal, according to the employees consulted. "Yesterday there was a lot of movement after 2:00 pm, when the decline in value was clear. Today we are operating normally," said Paola, who is in charge of a exchange office located in front of San Martin Square.

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