KABUL, Sept 16 (NNN-ANA) – The acting governor of Da Afghanistan Bank, the country’s central bank, assured the safety of Afghans’ deposits in commercial banks, the bank confirmed in a statement today.
“Da Afghanistan Bank assures our countrymen that, all commercial banks operating in the country are under serious supervision and are conducting their operations better than before. The banks are completely secure,” governor Mohammad Idrees was quoted in the statement, as saying.
All commercial banks in the region and the world, usually keep 10 percent of their capital as cash, and use the remainder in various commercial activities and provide useful services to their people, the statement said.
“Commercial banks in Afghanistan, on average, keep 50 percent of the afghani and foreign currency with them. Therefore, the banking sector is in a good condition. These banks have invested a certain amount of money inside the country and abroad, to play a useful role in the economic growth of Afghanistan,” the governor said.
The statement came as thousands of customers had waited in long lines, to withdraw their savings, since the Taliban’s takeover in mid-Aug.
Reports of freezing Afghanistan’s bank assets by the United States, as well as, a halt of funds by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have fueled concerns among Afghans.
On Aug 28, DBA issued an order to all banks in the country, to set temporary limit of withdrawals of 200 U.S. dollars (20,000 afghani) for one customer every week.– NNN-ANA
