Syrian Bank

So there I went to my local bank branch in Abu Rummaneh to finally collect my ATM card, after opening an account about two months ago through a representative at my office. On almost daily basis had I received account statements via e-mail, unanimously stating zeros all over the screen, with the exception of my account number, the current date, and the bank's contact telephone number.

The mission was to collect the ATM card, deposit some Syrian money on my new account and exchange some foreign currencies before depositing them to account. It was 3:40pm when I entered the branch, took my waiting number and sat down on a sumptuously upholstered armchair. A few minutes went by and I was the only customer left in the branch, yet everybody seemed to be busy doing something. Then an employee approached me asking me what I was waiting for. I showed him my waiting number and told him my various requests.

The answer was devastating: no, you cannot collect your card today, it is already too late for that. No, you cannot deposit or exchange foreign currency now, it is already too late for that. No, we do not accept Jordanian Dinars, Turkish Lira or Omani Rials at our bank, you have to exchange them somewhere on Sha3lan Street. No, you cannot do anything right here right now. Wow.

After some discussion they allowed me to at least deposit some Syrian currency before I had to leave the branch. They explained to me that after 3pm they don't do anything but clean up and close their books for the day.

I can only wonder why they would still allow people to enter the branch, take a number and wait. And the fact that they do not exchange currencies from two of their neighbouring countries intrigued me very much. Lots of space for improvement I guess.