Planned cut to bank hours sparks debate among customers

Planned bank branch hours will be cut by 30 minutes next April, with branches opening at 9:30 a.m. instead of 9 a.m. and closing at 4 p.m. unchanged. Customers reacted with mixed views, as some worried about longer waits and harder access to in-person services, while others said mobile banking now handles most routine tasks. Banking officials said the change should also be viewed from employees’ perspective, since opening on time requires pre-opening preparation and overtime can continue after closing.

Under the tentative labor-management agreement, bank branches will open at 9:30 a.m. starting April next year instead of 9 a.m. before closing at 4 p.m. as usual.

Some customers said the shorter hours could worsen already long lines because banks are reducing branches and staff.

The article says services such as foreign exchange transactions, account-related procedures and loan consultations are difficult to complete through mobile banking.

Bank employees said they usually need to arrive around 8:30 a.m. to prepare systems, cash and other materials before branches open.

One bank employee in Gyeonggi Province said many customers are elderly and visit during the daytime, so the shorter hours may not create a major difference.

Published Sep 30, 2026 7:00 am KST

Customers and bank tellers are seen at a bank branch in Seoul, Aug. 14. Yonhap

A planned 30-minute reduction in bank branch hours is drawing mixed reactions from customers, with many worrying that shorter service hours could make it harder to get in-person banking services.

Under a tentative labor-management agreement reached Monday, bank branches will open at 9:30 a.m. starting April next year, instead of the current 9 a.m., while closing hours will remain unchanged at 4 p.m.

Some customers said the shorter hours could worsen already long waits as banks continue to reduce the number of branches and staff.

"Even when I go in the morning, there are already long lines, and there are fewer employees available during lunch breaks. I don't understand why they are shortening the hours. If anything, they should keep the branches open until later," said Park, an office worker in Seoul.

Some online users suggested that if banks are going to shorten their operating hours, they should instead open later and close later, saying longer evening hours would make it easier for office workers to visit branches after work.

The issue is particularly relevant for customers looking for services that are difficult to complete through mobile banking, such as certain foreign exchange transactions, account-related procedures and loan consultations.

Lee, another office worker in her 30s, said she recently waited more than 30 minutes at a bank while exchanging foreign currency.

"I think the current operating hours should be maintained, considering that the number of branches is shrinking," Lee said.

However, others said shorter branch hours would not make much difference because most routine banking services can now be handled through mobile apps.

The shift toward digital banking has increasingly changed the role of branches, with more lenders encouraging customers to use mobile apps for routine transactions and to open savings accounts.

Some online commenters said they visit bank branches only once or twice a year, mainly for services that cannot easily be completed online.

"I think reducing branch hours while strengthening mobile services and phone consultations is the right direction. I use phone consultations more often than in-person services," one online user wrote.

Banking industry officials, meanwhile, said the shorter hours should also be considered from the perspective of employees.

To open branches at 9 a.m., employees generally need to arrive around 8:30 a.m. to prepare for the day's business, including setting up systems and preparing cash and other materials.

"Many customers think bank employees only work when the branches are open, but that's not the case. It takes time to prepare before opening, and employees sometimes work overtime even after the shutters come down," said a bank employee in Gyeonggi Province surnamed Kim.

"It varies by branch, but many of our customers are elderly and visit during the daytime. So I don't think many will feel a major difference from the shorter hours," Kim added.

Bank branch hours to be cut by 30 minutes next April

计划于明年4月将银行网点营业时间缩短30分钟，开门时间由上午9:00改为上午9:30，关门时间不变，仍为下午4:00。客户对此反应不一，一些人担心等待时间会更长，办理线下服务也会更加不便，而另一些人则表示，手机银行目前可以处理大部分日常事务。银行官员表示，也应该从员工的角度看待这一变化，因为准时开门需要提前做好准备，而且关门后可能还会继续加班。

根据劳资双方达成的暂定协议，从明年4月起，银行分行的开门时间将改为上午9:30，而不是像往常一样上午9点开门，下午4点关门。

一些客户表示，由于银行正在减少分支机构和员工，缩短营业时间可能会加剧本已排长队的状况。

文章指出，外汇交易、账户相关手续和贷款咨询等服务很难通过手机银行完成。

银行员工表示，他们通常需要在早上 8:30 左右到达，以便在分行开门前准备系统、现金和其他材料。

京畿道的一名银行员工表示，许多顾客都是老年人，他们白天来银行，因此缩短营业时间可能不会造成太大影响。

发布于2026年9月30日 上午7:00（韩国标准时间）

8月14日，首尔一家银行网点，顾客和银行柜员正在工作。（韩联社）

银行计划将营业时间缩短 30 分钟，这一举措引起了客户的不同反应，许多人担心营业时间缩短可能会使他们更难获得面对面的银行服务。

根据周一达成的劳资协议草案，从明年4月起，银行网点的开门时间将从目前的上午9点提前至上午9:30，而关门时间仍维持在下午4点。

一些客户表示，随着银行继续减少分支机构和员工数量，缩短营业时间可能会加剧本已漫长的等待时间。

“即使我早上去，也已经排起了长队，而且午休时间员工也更少了。我不明白他们为什么要缩短营业时间。如果非要缩短营业时间，他们应该把分店的营业时间延长才对。”首尔的一名上班族朴先生说道。

一些网民建议，如果银行要缩短营业时间，就应该推迟开门和关门时间，他们认为延长晚间营业时间会让上班族下班后更容易去银行网点办理业务。

对于那些希望通过手机银行办理某些难以完成的服务的客户来说，这个问题尤其重要，例如某些外汇交易、账户相关手续和贷款咨询。

另一位30多岁的上班族李女士说，她最近在银行兑换外币时等了30多分钟。

李说：“考虑到分行数量正在减少，我认为应该维持目前的营业时间。”

然而，也有人表示，缩短银行营业时间不会有太大影响，因为现在大多数日常银行业务都可以通过手机应用程序办理。

随着银行业务向数字化转型，银行网点的角色也日益改变，越来越多的贷款机构鼓励客户使用手机应用程序进行日常交易和开设储蓄账户。

一些网友表示，他们一年只去银行网点一两次，主要是为了办理一些无法在线轻松完成的业务。

一位网友写道：“我认为缩短营业时间，同时加强移动服务和电话咨询是正确的方向。我使用电话咨询的频率比亲自到店服务更高。”

与此同时，银行业官员表示，缩短工时也应该从员工的角度来考虑。

为了确保分行在早上 9 点开门营业，员工通常需要在早上 8 点 30 分左右到达，为当天的业务做好准备，包括设置系统、准备现金和其他材料。

“很多客户认为银行员工只在营业时间内工作，但事实并非如此。开门营业前需要时间准备，而且即使关门后，员工有时也会加班，”京畿道一位姓金的银行员工说道。

“情况因分店而异，但我们很多顾客都是老年人，他们通常在白天光顾。所以我认为缩短营业时间不会给很多人带来太大影响，”金补充道。

银行网点营业时间将于明年4月缩短30分钟。