Citizens Bank International Limited has relocated its flood-damaged Devi Ghat branch to Battar in Nuwakot district, restoring a physical banking presence in an area where its office was completely destroyed by the devastating flood in the Bhote Koshi River. The relocated branch has opened at Bidur Municipality-2 in Battar, roughly seven kilometres from the original Devi Ghat site. Chief Executive Officer Ganesh Raj Pokharel inaugurated the new office on Tuesday, saying the branch was shifted so that the bank could continue serving its customers without interruption.

Flood Damage Forced the Shift

The Devi Ghat branch of Citizens Bank was rendered completely unusable when floodwaters from the Bhote Koshi River swept through the area. The flood left the premises destroyed, forcing the bank to halt operations at the site and look for an alternative location from which it could continue to serve the local population.

After considering its options, the bank settled on Battar as the new home for the branch. The chosen site at Bidur Municipality-2 lies about seven kilometres from Devi Ghat, close enough for customers who previously used the Devi Ghat office to reach the relocated branch without excessive travel. Battar falls within Bidur Municipality, which serves as the headquarters of Nuwakot district. For the bank, the priority after the destruction was to find a location that would allow normal operations to resume while remaining convenient for the branch's existing customers.

New Branch Inaugurated in Battar

The relocated branch was formally inaugurated by Chief Executive Officer Ganesh Raj Pokharel on Tuesday. Addressing the occasion, Pokharel said the branch had been moved to Battar in order to continue serving customers, signalling the bank's determination to maintain its presence in the area despite the damage caused by the flood.

With the inauguration complete, customers of the former Devi Ghat branch can now access banking services at the Battar office. The reopening ends the gap in physical banking access that was created when the flood destroyed the original premises.

Key Details of the Relocation

  • Institution: Citizens Bank International Limited
  • Affected branch: Devi Ghat branch, Nuwakot
  • Cause of relocation: Complete destruction of the branch in the Bhote Koshi River flood
  • New location: Bidur Municipality-2, Battar, about seven kilometres from Devi Ghat
  • Inauguration: Carried out by Chief Executive Officer Ganesh Raj Pokharel on Tuesday
  • Stated objective: To provide convenient, accessible and effective banking services to local customers

Commitment to Convenient, Accessible Banking

According to the bank, the relocation has been carried out with the aim of providing convenient, accessible and effective banking services to local customers. By shifting the branch to Battar, the bank seeks to minimise the disruption faced by account holders and to offer them a stable point of contact for everyday transactions such as deposits, withdrawals and other regular banking needs.

The bank has positioned the Battar office as the direct continuation of the Devi Ghat branch, allowing customers to approach the same branch for their banking needs at a new address. The reopening will come as a relief to customers in Devi Ghat, Battar and the surrounding settlements, who would otherwise have to travel to more distant offices for in-person services. Access to a nearby branch remains important for daily financial life in Nepal's districts, where many households and small businesses still depend on cash transactions and face-to-face banking.

Disasters and the Challenge of Continuity

The destruction of the Devi Ghat branch also underlines the vulnerability of physical banking infrastructure to natural disasters in Nepal. Floods and landslides frequently damage buildings, roads and bridges across the country's hills and river valleys, and financial institutions sometimes have no choice but to relocate damaged offices in order to keep services running.

For customers, continuity of service is a critical concern after such events, as interrupted banking can affect everything from receiving remittances to managing savings. Decisions like the one taken by Citizens Bank, which relocated the branch to a nearby site, help ensure that disaster-affected communities are not cut off from the formal financial system.

Service Resumes at Battar

With the Battar branch now inaugurated and operational, Citizens Bank International Limited has made clear that the loss of the Devi Ghat office will not end its service to the local community. The bank has reiterated that the relocated branch forms part of its effort to keep banking convenient, accessible and effective for people in the area, and customers can now visit the new premises at Bidur Municipality-2, Battar, for their banking needs.

News of the relocation was reported by Nepal Press and News of Nepal.