Mashreqbank will change its banking hours to non-stop from Wednesday, opening from 8am to 4.15pm daily Saturday through Wednesday, and 8am to 12.30pm on Thursdays.

The change was made after extensive research conducted over the last two years and customer comments that showed many prefer to visit the bank in the afternoon.

"The branches working non-stop will enable our customers to also conduct banking transactions during the quieter hours from 1 to 4pm, a flexibility and freedom that no other bank in the UAE offers," said Steven Pinto, head of Mashreqbank's Retail Banking Division.

"The underlying objective is to ensure the bank caters to all our customer needs in every way possible and by simply listening to them we are able to adapt our services accordingly.

"The split-shift system did not suit some of our customers who worked the same hours, and therefore could not visit the bank without having to apply for time off. "It is also important that staff support the change and they have welcomed this move," Pinto said.