Effects Of The Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Effects Of The Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak

53.	EFFECTS OF THE CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) OUTBREAK

In early March 2020, the World Health Organization recognized Coronavirus

(Covid-19)

as a pandemic. This emergency situation over public health was worldwide expanded and several countries have taken different measures to contain the effects. This situation and the measures adopted have materially affected the international economy activity with different impacts on several countries and business lines.

Particularly in the Argentine Republic, on March 19, 2020, through Decree No. 297/2020, the Government established the “social, preventive and compulsory isolation” which, after several extends and amendments, which as of the date of issuance of these consolidated financial statements, is still effective in some urban agglomerations and some communes of the Argentinian provinces, while in other cities it was making flexible into “social, preventive and compulsory distancing”.

Along with health protection rules, tax and financial measures were taken to mitigate the impact on the economy associated with the pandemic, including public direct financial assistance measures for part of the population, the establishment of financial and fiscal facilities for both individuals and companies. As regards measures related to the financial institutions, the BCRA established maturities extensions, froze the mortgage loan installments and encouraged banks to lend to companies at reduced rates. In addition, as explained in note 50, the distribution of dividends of the finance institutions was suspended until June 30, 2021.

In addition, in the mandatory quarantine context, the BCRA ruled that financial institutions would not be able to open their branches for public service during that period and should continue to provide services to users remotely. They could also trade with each other and their clients in the exchange market remotely. During quarantine, remote trading of stock exchanges and capital markets authorized by the CNV, by the custodians and capital market agents registered with the CNV was admitted.

In view of the extension of mandatory quarantine, the BCRA then decided that financial institutions would open their branches from Friday, April 3, 2020 for public attention through previous appointments obtained by the Bank’s website

The Bank is developing its activities under the conditions detailed above, giving priority to the compliance of social isolation measures by its employees, with the primary objective of taking care of the public health and well-being of all its stakeholders (employees, suppliers, customers, among others). To this end, it has put in place contingency procedures and has enabled its staff to carry out their tasks remotely. From a commercial point of view, it has emphasized maintaining a close relationship with its customers, trying to respond to their needs at this difficult time, sustaining all virtual channels of care to ensure operability and a good response to requirements, monitoring compliance with their business obligations and monitoring the active portfolio in order to detect possible delays in collection and set new conditions for them.

Considering the size of the abovementioned situation, the Bank’s Management estimates that this situation could have an impact on its operations and the financial situation and the profit or loss of the Bank, which are under analysis, and will ultimately depend on the extent and duration of the health emergency and the success of the measures taken and taken in the future.