OREANDA-NEWS. May 14, 2013. ICBC immediately took action to provide emergency financial services after a 7.0-magnitude earthquake hit the Lushan county of Ya'an city in Sichuan Province.

On the next day, all 17 outlets under ICBC Ya'an Branch were open to business again. Meanwhile, ICBC ensured all systems were running smoothly and enough supply of cash. Self-service devices were one of the ways to provide uninterrupted financial services. Until 24:00 on April 23, there was a significant increase in the number of transactions made via ICBC Ya'an Branch's self-service devices, including 24,777 cash deposits/withdrawals to a sum of RMB 39.320,000, 1,039 transfers totaling RMB 7.32 million and 14,456 enquiries.

An executive with ICBC Sichuan Branch said, ICBC has adopted an array of special measures to provide financial services for the relief work. An example is the emergency services for ICBC personal customers in the affected areas to report loss or settle payment. The Branch assists customers to report loss of A/C, card or password in the shortest span to ensure the money in their accounts are safe. Customers who lost their identity documents are allowed to report loss verbally.

The Branch does not collect any charge from customers for loss reporting or card replacement. Customers can use valid identity document (or poof of identity issued by a public security organ) to draw cash or remit money without card. No banking charge for customers in the affected areas to use ICBC bank cards to draw/deposit cash from/to ICBC accounts opened in other cities. ICBC credit card customers who cannot repay on time are allowed to delay the repayment, no penalty fee or interest will be charged, no change to their credit scores. Currently, the Branch stops collecting late payment from credit card customers who have overdue repayment. Special procedures are adopted to disburse emergency funds for rescue and relief, as well as loans to companies and individuals who are in need of cash.