It has been about a month since the outbreak of the coronavirus began to change daily life for Americans.

As restrictions increased and social distancing became the new normal, industries have had to adapt their policies to meet the efforts to curb the spread of the disease.

While most businesses have closed, there are those that are deemed essential and must change their operations to ensure the public safety.

One of those that sees a high amount of contact with the public is the area of banking,  and Ironton’s financial institutions have been working to adjust to the changes of the last few weeks.

Randy Mays, president of Liberty Bank in Ironton, said they have implemented a number of changes.

“Our lobby has been closed, but we are operating our drive though,” he said.

He said they have also been steering customers to online banking options.

“And we are taking appointments here,” he said of needs that can not be met through the drive-through.

Liberty Bank has its main office in Ironton and a second location in Proctorville.

Mays said they have been sanitizing those locations daily.

“We sanitize the ATM throughout the day and all the door handles,” he said of high-contact surfaces. Similarly, PNC Bank, which has a number of locations in the Tri-State has implemented temporary retail branch adjustments to help safeguard the safety and well-being of customers and employees.

These changes include temporarily adjusting retail branch access and operating primarily in a drive-up only mode. About three quarters of PNC’s 2,459 branch locations will remain open to service customers, with the remainder of branches closed until further notice. The company is also maintaining consistent hours at its locations from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturdays.

They are also offering essential appointments, for customers requiring access to safe deposit box access, loan closings or other banking services that cannot be delivered through the drive-through, phone or online.

Essential services also remain offered at Desco Federal Credit Union in the lobby, by appointment only.

Drive-through services remain available with normal hours.

Desco is also advising customers that they can access services online and through remote deposit capture on a mobile phone.

After-hours telephone assistance for bill pay, mobile and online access is available after 5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 24 hours a day Saturday and Sunday by calling 800-488-0746 after regular hours.

They also said employees are ready to provide financial guidance and discuss solutions for those economically impacted by the pandemic by calling 1-800-488-0746 or emailing memberservice@descofcu.org.