The Nation Newspaper

Tag: bank customers

  • Bank customers express anger in Gombe

    BANK customers in Gombe State yesterday expressed anger over the strike and said the labour unions were not sensitive to the plights of the people.

    They said the strike was uncalled for since government had not called off negotiations with the unions.

    Mr. Ndubuisi Dibia, a businessman, said NLC had not taken into consideration the implications of strike on the economy.

    “NLC has not taken into consideration the strike implication on businesses. Businessmen like us have nothing to do with strike so why will the bank deny us services.

    “I do not think they know the implications of their action on an economy that is recovering from recession,” he said.

    Mrs. Roseline Nworah, a trader in Gombe New Market said she was not happy with the action of the banks, adding that the strike was not necessary since negotiations were on-going.

    Abubakar Mohammed, a farmer, said NLC should be more concerned with implementations rather than fighting for a new minimum wage.

  • Bank customers hold summit

    Bank Customers Association of Nigeria (BCAN) will hold its 3rd Biennial Summit tomorrow at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos. The theme of the summit is: “Rights and Obligations of Bank Customers”.

    In a statement, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Bank Customers Association of Nigeria (BCAN), Dr. Uju Ogubunka, stated that the summit would provide platform for reviewing the challenges facing customers and the evolving banking system.

    According to him, the summit also promises an interactive platform for exchanging views between banks’ chief executives and their customers with the sole aim of resolving lingering issues between the two major parties within the intervention frameworks of regulatory agencies.

    Expected at the summit are bank customers, policy makers, regulators, representatives of government departments and agencies, officials of inter-governmental organisations, businessmen and women, leaders of the organized private sector in Nigeria and members of the public.

    The summit would be chaired by former Central Bank Deputy Governor, Mr. Victor Odozi while the Governor of Central Bank Godwin Emefiele, would be the Special Guest of Honour.

  • New campaign inspires bank customers to action

    First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has taken another bold step to deepen its history of excellence and consolidate its position as one of the foremost financial institutions in Nigeria. The latest milestone came in the form of a new thematic campaign titled: ‘’Feel Confident, Pursue your Aspirations’’, which inspires its customers to take action and achieve their dreams, writes COLLINS NWEZE.

    A bank’s customers are its biggest asset. They not only make the lender succeed, but keeps its business going.

    Hence, when First City Monument Bank (FCMB) unveiled its new campaign: Feel Confident, Pursue your Aspirations, its aim was to inspire its customers to take actions that will make them fulfill their dreams.

    The campaign, which showcases the warm, friendly, approachable, inspiring and energetic brand identity of FCMB and its values as a simple, reliable and helpful bank, is being communicated in print, television and radio outlets and also on social media, just as it continues to make raves as one of the most outstanding in recent times in the country.

    According to the bank, the ‘’Feel Confident, Pursue your Aspirations’’ message tells compelling stories of the lives and business aspirations of diverse Nigerians and how FCMB supports them to bring such dreams and aspirations to reality.

    It also tells the story of the very diverse base of the customers that FCMB serves, its commitment to creating opportunities, adding more value and enhancing the overall customer experience of its clientele. This is aimed at further connecting with them to sustain their loyalty and patronage.

    “Indeed, the commercials of the new thematic campaign across media platforms clearly demonstrate the commitment of FCMB and its readiness to help existing and potential customers confidently translate their dreams, aspirations, ideas and business plans into real practical, measurable and successful ones,” the bank said.

    The lender explained that the thematic campaign sends a clear message of conviction to all segments of people in the society who have any form of credible personal or corporate business idea, intention or plan, but have not been able to turn them into reality, that FCMB is ready to make them live their dreams. Credence is added by the fact the Bank parades a team of experts in financial management, macro and micro financing, business design, development, growth and sustainability, among others.

    Part of the proposition of the campaign goes thus: “You have got plans, let’s make them happen. At FCMB, we share your aspirations. Let us help you fulfill them with our specialised range of banking products and services. You have got an idea, let’s grow a business. Managing a business does not have to be a burden you bear alone. Get SME advisory support today. We power over 300,000 registered businesses with our array of business banking solutions. Take advantage of these solutions designed to support your business.”

    The over 35 years old financial institution, which was recently awarded the prestigious International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) 9001:2015 certificate for Quality Management System by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, is making this possible through its all-inclusive bucket of flexible products and services, structured to satisfy all banking needs of all segments of the society.

    Commenting on the FCMB ‘’Feel Confident, Pursue your Aspirations’’ thematic campaign, the Managing Director of the Bank, Adam Nuru, said, “it tells the story of the diverse base of the customers that we serve at FCMB. It does not matter where you are, we support you to fulfill your life and business aspirations at FCMB. Our convenient electronic banking platforms and best-in-class relationship management model deliver great experience to our customers as we support them to achieve their great dreams for themselves, their families and their businesses”.

    He reiterated that ‘’Nigerians are aspirational and hard-working people. FCMB is the bank for all Nigerians, walking with them as partners to fulfill their life and business aspirations in the true spirit of its brand pay-off line; “FCMB- My Bank and I”.

    Also, Group Head, Corporate Affairs of FCMB, Diran Olojo, explained that, “it is a tactical reaction to our Bank’s periodic brand health checks”. “This is aimed at regularly feeling the pulse of our stakeholders in our continuous drive to satisfy them and sustainably achieve excellent customer experience, qualities FCMB has come to be associated with, over the years,”he said.

    Nuru added that as one of the few Banks that consistently feature in the top 5 categories, across all segments, in the KPMG annual customer satisfaction survey, analysts are of the opinion the lender is on a stronger pedestal to deliver the very best in products and services.

    FCMB provides one of the best alternate channels banking services cutting across ATMs, mobile banking, Point-of-Sale (PoS) and internet banking. The Bank is among the first to deliver on-the-spot ATM cards, including Visa card and MasterCard, issuance in Nigeria. Last year, the Bank deployed an additional 5,000 PoS machines nationwide to bring the number to 14,000. It also launched a new Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) mobile app to enhance alternate channels adoption among customers in the business segment.

    FCMB’s self-service, stress-free and secured solution, (*329# USSD code), has equally continued to delight the public. Through this platform, customers carry-out various financial transactions, using their mobile phones. These include funds transfer, account opening, micro loans and top-up, account balance enquiry, airtime and data purchase, bills payment, among other value-added services, on the go and without any hurdles.

    The Bank explained that the *329# mobile banking solution forms part of its core strategy to expand its service channels by promoting and deepening the Central Bank of Nigeria’s cashless and financial inclusion policies. The development eliminates delays periodically experienced by physically visiting a branch of the Bank or outlet to carry-out transactions.

    In addition, the initiative will reinforce the lender’s commitment to environmental sustainability, geared towards reducing the quantity of paper and other materials usage in the society of which printing of various banking documents forms a substantial part of the process.

    A major component of FCMB’s sustainability principle is on agriculture and empowering farmers with a view to increasing their productivity potential as part of its financial intermediation role for national development. This is reflected in the bank’s intervention that has resulted in better access to financial resources by deserving individuals, organisations and companies. It has also led to improved processes, better output and profitability.

     

     

    In the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises space, FCMB has continued to prove its mettle. It has developed number of cutting-edge products and services that have endeared it to Businesses. The bank also offers free banking transactions for a period of three months for new-to-FCMB SME customers.

    In line with the bank’s drive to partner with value content from the FinTech space, it has collaborated with Paystack to provide an innovative online collection platform for merchants and other businesses focused on enabling them to provide their customers with a seamless payment experience. Beyond this, FCMB regularly organizes training and other capacity building programmes for SMEs to keep them up to speed with skills that would further grow their businesses, while also providing funding. Without doubt, the new thematic campaign of FCMB and other giant strides being recorded by the Bank, show that it is on a journey to greater heights.

  • Bank customers drop by two million

    Despite Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN’s) effort to promote financial inclusion, the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) banking industry statistics shows that the number of customers using financial services reduced in 2017.

    The statistics obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) from the NIBSS website yesterday, showed that the total number of bank customers dropped from 61 million in 2016 to 59 million in 2017.

    Similarly, active bank accounts reduced from 65 million in 2016 to 63.5 million accounts in 2017.

    According to NIBSS, the banking sector, however, made great strides in linking customers’ account using the Bank Verification Number (BVN).

    The report showed that linked BVN accounts grew from 26 million in 2016, to 41.3 million in 2017.

    According to a banking industry source, the reduction in banking customers is not unconnected to the federal government’s anti-graft battle.

    “When Buhari assumed office, many people abandoned their accounts, especially civil servants because of fear of investigation.

    “While some closed down their accounts outright, others opted for gradual withdrawal so as not to raise the alarm,’’ the source said.

    The source, who works at one of the top banks, blamed the BVN for the low patronage of banking products, especially in the rural areas, where awareness was very low.

    A bank customer, Olaitan Alagbe told NAN that she closed some of her accounts due to unnecessary and illegal charges by banks.

    “First of all, the interest rate is next to nothing, so there is little reason to keep your money at the bank when you can turn it over doing other businesses,” she said.

    Another customer, who preferred to remain anonymous said he opened several accounts during the Ponzi scheme boom in the country, but was forced to abandon them after the schemes crashed in late 2016 and early 2017.

    However, a source at the CBN told NAN that the reduction in the number of banking customers was caused mainly by the introduction of BVN.

    “The reduction may not necessarily be a bad thing. For example, many people opened accounts using different variations of their names.

    “A person bearing Musa Salisu Mohammed, may have other accounts as Salisu Mohammed or Musa Salisu.

    “So with the introduction of BVN, such customers were forced to regularise their names, however, some opted to close down their accounts, which resulted in the reduction of active bank accounts and customers,’’ the source said.

    The CBN source was, however, optimistic that the financial inclusion strategy of the bank would succeed in bringing in more people into the formal banking system.

    The Financial Inclusion strategy aims to ensure that major bulk of the money in the economy remains within the banking sector.

    A major challenge in the financial inclusion process is how to ensure that the poor rural dwellers are carried along considering the lack of financial sophistication among this segment.

    The CBN, Money Deposit Banks, Micro Finance Banks and other stakeholders are currently implementing different policies designed to enhance financial inclusion in the country.

  • ‘Cash-snatching syndicate’ terrorise bank customers

    ‘Cash-snatching syndicate’ terrorise bank customers

    Bank customers in Ekiti State are now gripped with fear, following the activities of a syndicate which snatches the money collected either from the bank or the Automated Teller Machines (ATMs).
    The syndicate operates at banks on Secretariat Road, Ado-Ekiti, otherwise known as Bank Road, which has the largest concentration of banks in the state capital.
    The Nation gathered yesterday that 10 customers had lodged complaints with their banks in the last three weeks.
    The two banks mostly targeted are Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) and Diamond Bank.
    Investigation by our reporter revealed that members of the syndicate target customers withdrawing huge cash.
    They are trailed to their destinations on motorcycles, where they are robbed at gunpoint.
    What gives away customers withdrawing large sums are the bags usually provided by the cashiers.
    A petty trader close to one of the banks told our reporter that members of the syndicate are known to her and others around but they are scared to reveal their identities.
    She said: “Some of the boys usually station themselves outside the bank.
    “Other gang members stay inside to monitor the victim’s movement.
    “As soon as the targeted customer leaves the banking hall, the gang members trail him to his destination.
    “They also specialise in forcing open the cars of the customers to steal money while they (customers) are inside to carry out transactions.
    “There was a case of a pastor who had withdrawn cash from a nearby bank and came to this bank to perform some transactions.
    “He was unable to park his car inside the parking lot and was directed to park on the road.
    “But before he emerged from the banking hall, the N400,000 he had withdrawn from another bank had been stolen by the boys who broke into his car.
    “The furious pastor was angry with the bank security personnel who asked him to park on the road but failed to watch over the car.
    “We know the boys but we have chosen to keep silent so that they will not deal with us.”
    Officials of the banks declined comments on the matter.
    Police spokesman Alberto Adeyemi said such cases had not been reported.
    He promised to reach out to the Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) concerned.
    Adeyemi advised bank customers to be more security conscious, especially during this Yuletide.