Banks serving Newtown are quickly falling in line by either limiting customer interactions with staff or closing certain branch operations while encouraging depositors to utilize computer banking services and ATMs to access cash or to transact other applicable business.

On Wednesday morning, March 18, Newtown Savings Bank officials notified The Newtown Bee that all branches other than Newtown, Southbury, and Trumbull will operate in drive-up only mode.

“Provisions will be made on an individual basis for customers who need to visit our lobbies for safe deposit box visits, reasons of disability,” and for other specific transactions, according to a release. The Bank’s Church Hill Road Branch in Newtown, along with the Southbury and Trumbull lobbies will remain open for limited services.

Effective Tuesday, March 24, the Newtown and Southbury branches will switch to drive-up only mode. The reason for the delayed effective date in these offices is to ensure that there is time to adequately communicate with customers and ensure an orderly transition at our highest volume branches.

NSB officials stated that they are enacting these measures to protect “the health, safety, and well-being of our customers, employees, and community members [who] are our top priority.”

The NSB Customer Service Center may be reached by calling 800-461-0672 during regular business hours with extra staffing available to assist - or visit nsbonline.com/coronavirus.

Savings Bank of Danbury (sbdanbury.com) will temporarily close its banking office lobbies effective Wednesday, March 18, according to a release. All of the bank’s drive-up windows will remain open and fully operational.

Additionally, Savings Bank of Danbury offers a number of other options including Online Banking, Mobile Banking and Telephone Banking services on a 24/7 basis.

Martin G. Morgado, Chief Executive Officer at Savings Bank of Danbury said, “This isn’t a step we take lightly, but we believe it is necessary in order to help reduce the potential spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus) and to protect our customers and employees during this unusual time.”

Morgado said he is “optimistic that this measure will be short-term and that we will return to full service in the near future.”

“In the meantime, though, our valued customers will still have full access to a wide array of banking services, including drive-throughs, ATMs, and our Online Banking, Mobile Banking and Telephone Banking,” he added. “We have team members in place dedicated to helping any customers who need assistance in navigating through any of our other banking options.”

To learn more about any of these options, please visit http://sbdanbury.com.

Similar messaging was posted at the Union Savings Bank (USB) of Connecticut website Wednesday morning.

“We have temporarily suspended branch lobby access to all branches with the exception of Roxbury and Washington Depot,” the USB website states. Union Savings customers are asked to conduct banking via branch drive-up windows and ATMs. To complete a transaction that cannot be done online or through its mobile app, Union Savings customers are asked to call the number listed on each branch location page.

The website also has information on enrolling in USB Online services, and tutorials on how to use USB’s digital and mobile banking products so customers can better manage their finances virtually, so they can minimize or avoid person to person contact.

Any USB depositors who cannot connect online or from the Union Savings mobile app is asked to call 800-860-6670 — and for updated information, to visit unionsavings.com/security/coronavirus-response/

Local People’s United branches are following a company-wide protocol to avoid potential disruptions in service by establishing “a prepared and dedicated response team; a multi-phase pandemic response plan; proactive education for employees on COVID-19 protection; and extensive, enhanced cleaning of our branches and ATMs.”

Additionally, People’s United states its management is following up-to-the minute “guidance from official local, state, and Federal government and public health agencies, and is encouraging customers to use secure electronic resources to minimize person-to-person contact. The bank is also reminding customers that “situations like the current pandemic present an opportunity for cyber criminals and fraudsters to take advantage of public concerns.”

People’s United is advising its customers to “Be aware of potential scammers attempting to impersonate or “spoof” authorities such as government or public health officials or agencies. Always exercise caution before engaging with someone seeking information.” And that “People’s United Bank will never make or send unsolicited calls, texts or emails asking [customers] to provide, verify, or update passwords, usernames or security codes, or account information such as Social Security number, Account Number, Credit Card Number or other personal information.”

The Wells Fargo branch is following corporate protocols helping to educate customers about electronic banking options, is maintaining its drive-up window service, and is advising in-branch visitors of distancing practices to minimize or eliminate any possible exposure.

Wells Fargo’s corporate banking website is asking customers to “reach out to your relationship manager to talk through any specific challenges, answer questions, or rethink existing strategies.”

“Where we need to staff critical operations activities at Wells Fargo facilities we are practicing social distancing with in-person interactions and conducting enhanced cleaning as needed. We have contingency strategies in place to reasonably continue business operations should there be a quarantine at any one or multiple Wells Fargo locations.”