Greenfield and Northampton Cooperative Banks will be re-opening their lobbies for the public effective Monday. Since the Marcbanh 24 shutdown, there has been very limited public access. During the past two plus months, customers could access drive-up tellers, ATM’s and online/ mobile banking available to the public. These services will continue to operate as before even with the reopening of lobbies.
Everyone must follow safety standards set by the state, including face masks for staff and customers (except children under age 2), use of hand sanitizers, and following proper social distancing. Before any transaction is completed, tellers will ask each customer to pull down their mask for a second to do a “security camera” smile. This is to record who was in the lobby as additional security for all customers and staff. The bank has posted signage and will limit the people in our lobbies to ensure proper social distancing.
The bank has installed a full range of safety measures including plexiglass shields at all teller windows, customer service representative/ manager/lender’s desks. Staff has been trained on proper procedures. Employees will have their temperatures taken at the start of each day; the bank will not be taking temperature of customers. All staff are frequently washing their hands during the day and the bank will regularly sanitize high-traffic touch areas; doorknobs, check-writing desks, teller counters, as well as carry out a robust cleaning each night. New air filters have been installed in the heating/cooling systems.
Lenders (both commercial and residential) will encourage telephone and online applications, but they will engage in face-to-face applications upon request / by appointment. All safety rules must be followed during any face to face applications.
The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles will be implementing further extensions to the renewal timelines for expiring motor vehicle inspection stickers, passenger plate registrations, professional credentials, and driver’s licenses and learner’s permits, including commercial driver’s licenses and commercial learner’s permits.
While the RMV has previously announced extensions for most credentials, passenger plate registrations and inspection stickers expired or expiring in March, April, and May, today’s action will apply an additional extension to those credentials and an extension to some credentials expiring in June, July, and August.
These extensions replicate the ongoing measures the RMV has taken to reduce the need for customers to physically visit an RMV Service Center or one of its business partners’ facilities, allowing for “social distancing” by decreasing nonessential travel and customer volume. Additional, longer-term extensions will also allow the RMV to ensure “social-distancing” guidelines are met as demand for in-person service and renewals resumes during the commonwealth’s reopening phases.
The new changes to expiration extensions will be in effect as follows:
■Driver’s licenses and ID cards, including CDLs, that expired or will expire in March, April, and May, will now expire in September and do not need to be renewed at this time.
■Driver’s licenses and ID cards that will expire in June have been extended until October; those that will expire in July have been extended until November; and those that will expire in August have been extended until December and do not need to be renewed at this time.
The specific expiration date typically coincides with an individual’s birth date. Customers holding an RMV credential marked “Limited-Term” that has expired or will expire between March 1 and Aug. 31, should visit Mass.gov/RMV for more information and to check the validity of their credential. The RMV also recently introduced an online renewal option for CDL holders if they are self-certified in the Non-Excepted Interstate (NI) category for medical certification.
■Learner’s permits, including Commercial Learner’s Permits, that expired or will expire in March, April, and May, will now expire in December. Learner’s permits that will expire in June, July, and August will also be extended until December.
This extension will allow additional time for permit students and driving schools to complete in-car instruction and a road test when those functions are authorized to re-start safely.
Road tests for CDLs are still being conducted during the state of emergency. Massachusetts State Police manage CDL road tests and require anyone taking a CDL road test to bring and wear a face covering for the entirety of the road test.
In accordance with updated guidance from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, all CDL Medical Certificates expiring between March 1 and May 31 have previously been extended until June 30, and no additional extension will be applied. However, all CDL Medical Certificates expiring between June 1 and Aug. 31 have been extended until Sept. 30, and do not need to be renewed at this time. Extensions to CDL Medical Certificates are intended to prevent license downgrades and elective medical visits, as well as alleviate demand on medical providers, during the State of Emergency.
The annual motor vehicle safety and emissions inspection stickers that have expired or will expire in March, April, and May have been extended until July 31. No additional extensions will be applied, and inspection stations are open at their discretion within the public health guidelines to perform this work.
All passenger plate registrations that have expired or will expire in March, April, and May have been extended until July 31. The RMV has also applied a 30-day extension to registrations that expire in June, which will now expire on July 31. Registration renewals can continue to be performed online at Mass.Gov/RMV during this time.
All school bus, school pupil (7D), and bus registrations that will expire in June have been extended 30 days until July . Professional credentials for school bus certificates, school pupil transport licenses (7D), inspector licenses, inspection station licenses, driving instructor licenses and driving school licenses that have expired or will expire in March, April, and May have previously been extended until 90 days after the State of Emergency is lifted. The RMV has added June expirations to the previous extension and professional credentials that expire in June have 90 days after the State of Emergency is lifted to renew.