Several Bolivian banks temporarily closed branches in the capital La Paz on Tuesday, citing security concerns amid escalating anti-government unrest in the city, Reuters reports.
The closures, confirmed to Reuters by an eyewitness, come as protests by unions, miners, transport workers and rural groups have intensified in recent weeks, putting pressure on centrist President Rodrigo Paz to abandon austerity measures and tackle the rising cost of living.
Some protesters called for the president's resignation, reflecting a wider anti-government backlash.
Banks such as Banco Nacional de Bolivia, Banco de Credito de Bolivia (BCP), Banco Economico and state bank Banco Union have closed some branches in downtown La Paz for security reasons, redirecting customers to online banking and ATM services.
Employees of five banks told Reuters on Tuesday that operations would not resume until the protests subsided.
ASOBAN, Bolivia's banking association, declined to comment on the cause of the closures, but said banks continued to operate partially.
The protests also caused widespread roadblocks, leaving trucks stranded on highways and contributing to shortages of food, medical supplies and fuel.
YPFB, Bolivia's state energy company, said on Monday that blockages at its Senkata plant and on several other roads in the country had forced it to suspend deliveries to affected areas.
