In this sense, all our services are available to our clients through digital channels and the bank’s infrastructure has been capacitated for several years now, so that employees may carry out their business activities by “remote access”
Financial system is one of the pillars of economy and society. To that end we spoke with Mrs. Jelena Galić, Chairman of the Executive Board, AIK banka, about organising their business activities in these condition:
Intensive communication with the entire team plays a key role in ensuring smooth functioning of business activities under these conditions, especially for our clients. As for clients who are unable to use digital channels, our branch network is at their conveniance where we apply all preventive health care measures. Our healthcare system is facing a huge challenge and just about everyone, from each ndividual to large business systems, should help as much as they can“ she said.
How did you organize your business activities? What about communication with clients and what do you think the Government could do to preserve the Serbian economy?
Since banks are one of the pillars of economy and society, we’ve organized our business activities in such a way that our clients may continue using all our services unobtrusively. In this sense, all our services are available to our clients through digital channels and the bank’s infrastructure has been capacitated for several years now, so that employees may carry out their business activities by “remote access”. As far as I can see all over the world, people behave similarly and most companies whose nature of business allow them to do so, has sent employees to work from home.
Intensive communication with the entire team plays a key role in ensuring smooth functioning of business activities under these conditions, especially for our clients. Since we’ve developed almost all digital services, we now instruct our clients to use them, because all the necessary transactions can be made via mobile phone, computer or ATM. As for clients who are unable to use digital channels, our branch network is at their conveniance where we apply all preventive health care measures in accordance with the recommendations of the World Health Organization and our Ministry of Health and Institute for Public Health.
In order to preserve the entire economy, the first step is to shorten the period of the “health crisis” so that economic flows return to normal and resume regular economic activity as soon as possible. Meanwhile, almost all states have prepared or are preparing economic relief packages for the economy, starting from tax reliefs, temporary moratoriums on financial and/or other obligations through loan guarantee schemes, to measures that will provide additional liquidity throughout the system. Our Government is working on similar measures in cooperation with banks, industry and professional associations and some of them are already in place and are accessible to the real sector of economy and citizens as well.
How important is it for companies to stand in solidarity, to support and donate to the healthcare system?
When the world is hit by such a crisis destroying human lives, health systems, the economy and the normal course of life, the least that companies could do is to join together and help. Solidarity and unity are of utmost importance now. Our healthcare system is facing a huge challenge and just about everyone, from each ndividual to large business systems, should help as much as they can. Only in this way and if we are disciplined enough can we see an end to the state of emergency and solving the pandemic outbreak as soon as possible.
AIK Bank has made a cash donation to state institutions a few days ago to buy 10 respirators, which hopefully helped the most vulnerable patients struggling for their lives. Our entire group, MK Group, provides solidarity assistance through competent institutions on a daily basis. We’ve donated financial support to the Institute of Virology, Vaccines and Sera “Torlak”, we’ve put the hotel accommodation facilities in Novi Sad to use of the Institute of Public Health of Serbia „Dr Milan Jovanovi
Batut“ and we’ve made a food donation for retired senior citizens in Belgrade. At the local government level, we are helping on a daily basis by donating for the procurement of necessary medical equipment and humanitarian packages for hospitals, retirees and the most vulnerable. We want to help our healthcare system when it is most needed, and that is why I invite all individuals and companies to do the same.
How do you spend your free time during the pandemic?
Since we responsibly approach to this situation to ensure the continuity of smooth running of the business and the availability of all services, daily communication with the whole team is much more intensive than in regular circumstances, so there is not much free time left. However, I have to admit that this situation has turned us more to our household and family with only one difference and that is that we are forced to spend more time at home, so we use this time to follow online classes and RTS, play board games, watch interesting animated movies, watch the news and follow recommendations, talk about social responsibility and discipline, because this is really the most important thing for us all at the moment. I think most of us behave similarly and we all have to follow the instructions of the authorities and stay at home so that we can be together again and enjoy the beautiful weather in nature.
What would be the first you’d do after lifting of the state of emergency?
It’s hard to talk about it now. Surely, I will first take the opportunity to thank all the employees, together with my management team, for the perseverance and sacrifice they have made during the state of emergency and pandemic. Secondly, we will consider, as a Bank, all the possibilities and options where and how we can help all our clients affected by this crisis and offer them the best solutions to all their problems and needs.