WASHINGTON -- The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
has issued a proclamation allowing national bank offices to close during the
week of November 17, 2003, if events related to the Ministerial Meeting of the
Free Trade Area of the Americas in Miami, Florida, should necessitate such
action.
In issuing the proclamation, Comptroller of the Currency
John D. Hawke, Jr. said he expects that only those bank offices directly
affected by these conditions will close.
Those offices should make every effort to reopen as quickly as possible
to address the banking needs of their customers, he added.
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The
OCC charters, regulates and examines approximately 2,100 national banks and 52
federal branches and agencies of foreign banks in the United States, accounting
for 55 percent of the nation’s banking assets.
Its mission is to ensure a safe, sound and competitive national banking
system that supports the citizens, communities and economy of the United
States.