"Usually bank branches do not work on 1 January, however, we have agreed with banks that, after the adoption of the euro on the first day of the next year, conditions will be created to exchange currency in all county centres. Al least one bank branch will operate there. Beside usual work on 2 January, many more bank branches will operate on the first weekend of the New Year than usual," says Vitas Vasiliauskas, Chairman of the Board of the Bank of Lithuania.
Longer working hours of bank customer service divisions are also projected. ATMs will be supplied with low-denomination banknotes.
"Residents, in seeking to change over to the euro as smoothly as possible, should take notice of a few things. First – all matters at bank branches, including those related to payments, should be handled as soon as possible, as on the last day of this year they will operate shorter. Until the euro adoption it is most convenient to hold litas in accounts, while should you have litas cash after the euro adoption, where not necessary, it is not worth rushing to exchange it on the first days due to likely queues. Residents will be able to exchange it at banks and post offices free of charge long after the euro adoption and at the Bank of Lithuania – for unlimited time. And, of course, residents should beware of swindlers proposing to exchange currency in the street or at home," says Vasiliauskas.
