Wells Fargo is joining JPMorgan and Bank of America in giving staff up to 8 hours off to get COVID-19 vaccines

• Wells Fargo has urged staff to get the vaccine and will give them paid time off to do so, per a memo seen by Insider.
• The US bank will grant its employees eight hours of paid time off to get vaccinated.
• JPMorgan, Bank of America and Citigroup are also giving paid time off for vaccine appointments.

Wells Fargo has become the latest bank to encourage all employees to get COVID-19 vaccines by granting paid time off for their appointments, Reuters first reported.

The bank will offer up to eight hours for staff around the world to get immunized, according to an internal memo on Thursday seen by Insider. Employees can schedule four hours for each appointment with a maximum of two appointments, it said.

"While we understand that choosing to be vaccinated is a personal decision, we encourage you to consider getting the vaccine when it's available to you," said David Galloreese, head of human resources, in the memo that was sent to its more than 268,000 employees worldwide.

"We encourage you to be educated about COVID-19 vaccines so that you can make an informed decision."

The US's fourth biggest bank also said in the memo it was expanding its free COVID-19 testing program at its 25 largest locations across the world.

Staff will have access to on-site testing from Monday and will be able to request a test that can be self-administered at home, according to the memo.

In February, the bank told Insider that all workers who go into the bank are required to fill out a daily questionnaire beforehand on whether they have symptoms or have been exposed to the virus.

They also told us that the bank's biggest US hubs have an on-site nurse to check for coronavirus symptoms before employees step into the office.

Wells Fargo isn't the only bank to urge staff to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and grant paid time off for inoculations.

JPMorgan

Employees at JPMorgan, the US' largest bank by assets, are also allocated eight hours to get vaccinated against coronavirus, the bank said in an emailed statement to Bloomberg February 26.

In February, it told Insider that workers are required to take a daily health check via mobile or laptop before they could come into any of its offices.

JPMorgan employs around 255,000 people. Insider approached the bank for further comment.

Like Wells Fargo staff, JPMorgan staff can request an at-home testing kit if they need one. They can also book a PCR COVID-19 test at one of the bank's on-site health and wellness centers.

Bank of America

Staff at Bank of America are able to use two half days, for up to four hours each, to accommodate a COVID-19 vaccine appointment this year, the bank said February 26 in a staff memo seen by Bloomberg.

This will allow workers time off to receive two doses, which most of the vaccines in use require, Bloomberg reported.

The strategy will "help address the impacts of the coronavirus and to support the physical, emotional and financial well-being of our teammates," the bank said in the memo per Bloomberg. Insider has approached to Bank of America for comment.

Sources told Insider in February that Bank of America was testing UK employees for coronavirus on a weekly basis if they were going into the office.

There are plans to roll out the tests to the rest of Europe, the Middle East, and Africa region, the sources said. Bank of America declined to comment at the time.

The firm has around 212,500 employees.

Citigroup

Citigroup is also allocating paid time off for workers to go and get vaccinated.

The bank is "focused on removing any obstacle for our colleagues to get vaccines, and will provide whatever paid time away from work is reasonably necessary to travel to and get the vaccine," the bank said in an emailed statement to Bloomberg on February 26.

Insider reached out to Citigroup, which has more than 204,000 employees, for comment.