Kathmandu. KATHMANDU: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has made banks and financial institutions more responsible to control financial crimes and make investigation effective.

The government has made the banks and financial institutions more responsible by amending the Integrated Directive, 2082 issued to them.

As per the new provision, a provision should be made to immediately freeze the bank account related to financial crimes for a short period if a request is received verbally or in writing from any law enforcement agency or investigating any crime.

The organization shall make necessary arrangements to freeze the bank account related to financial crime for a short period of 7 days on the oral/written request of the law enforcement authority or to make necessary coordination to reduce the financial crime. For such tasks, a separate number should be fixed and put on its website,” the directive reads.

The NRB has also directed the banks and financial institutions to make arrangements for providing details of account holders, transaction related information or other necessary documents to the banks and financial institutions if any officer investigating any crime or enforcing law asks for it.