Customers were warned about longer waiting times when a bank changes its hours temporarily from next week after a rise in Covid-19 transmissions on the island.

Butterfield Bank’s Reid Street, St George's and Somerset locations will be open to customers between 9am and 2pm from Monday to Friday until further notice.

However, they will close at 1pm on December 24 and 31.

A spokesman said: “The change in hours follows actions taken last week to split banking centre and operations personnel into teams working alternate shifts as a business continuity measure amid increased incidence of Covid-19 infections in the community.”

Michael Neff, Butterfield’s managing director in Bermuda, added: “Reduced hours and fewer employees in the banking centres means wait times for in-person service will be longer than usual.

“As an essential service provider, we have taken these steps to ensure our banking centres will be able to continue operating should a member of our team test positive for Covid-19, and to provide relief to our frontline colleagues who have been working hard to serve our clients under challenging circumstances since the onset of the pandemic.

He said: “While we remain open for business, queuing times are longer.

“We encourage clients to complete transactions using an ATM, Butterfield Online, or our mobile banking app wherever possible.

“We thank our clients for their understanding, and we regret any inconvenience.”

Butterfield’s corporate offices are operating under a work-from-home model.

For loan enquiries, customers should call 298-4799.

Corporate and private banking clients should contact their relationship managers directly.

For anything else, customers were asked to call 295-1111.