SEVERAL Bank of Saipan depositors are already transferring their accounts to other banks, according to Thomas Schoen, the bank’s chief operating officer.
“We are accommodating the request of our depositors to transfer. There are several request for transfer,” Schoen said.
He refused to divulge the exact number of requests, saying he is not “privileged” to give the detailed information.
During Tuesday’s reopening, seven accounts were transferred to other banks.
Schoen said they are encouraging their clients to fax their requests for transfer, rather than going to the bank.
“They can rest assured that their requests will be accommodated,” Schoen said.
A lawyer of bank receiver Randy Fennell, Richard W. Pierce, said there was already a “positive response” from the community as a result of the reopening of Bank of Saipan on Tuesday.
He said “more and more employees” were reporting back to work.
Pierce said the bank’s receiver is proud that the bank’s chief lending officer, David C. Sablan, has urged his fellow employees to report to work.
Schoen and Pierce said there was “no problem” encountered on the second day of the bank’s re-opening yesterday.
Schoen said those who were not served will be entertained the following day.
The bank’s Tinian branch will re-open today, while Rota will re-open tomorrow, Schoen said.
Meanwhile, Senate President Paul A. Manglona said he agrees with acting Commerce Secretary Fermin M. Atalig’s statement that all local banks should be members of the Federal Deposits Insurance Corp.
Manglona, R-Rota, said the current law states that all banks should be under FDIC.
However, he said Bank of Saipan was granted a “waiver” by the Legislature because of its “long service” in the commonwealth. The bank has been in operation for 20 years now.
Sen. Diego M. Songao, Covenant-Rota, urged commonwealth residents to “support” the bank.
“Let’s not panic—let’s have more confidence in the bank,” he said.
