Benue customers lament closure of internal banking services
Some customers in Benue state have lamented the closure of internal banking services including cash withdrawal, deposits and customer care services within Makurdi metropolises.
The Daily Times investigation revealed that closure of the banks was a directive from the Central Bank of Nigeria for commercial banks to offer only skeletal services such as ATM or online banking as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the First Bank, First City Monument Bank, United Bank for Africa, Access Bank and Ecobank respectively, it was observed that a handful of customers who were at the bank to make cash deposits or withdrawals were almost stranded while a few automated teller machines were functioning.
At the First Bank and First City Monument Bank, an official said those desiring to make deposit of over N100, 000 were to meet the bank agents at Katsina-Ala Street and that the bank opens from 10am to 1:00pm.
Investigations further revealed that at the Ecobank High Level, customers were made to gain access into the banking hall only after writing their names and GSM numbers at the entry point.
An Access Bank, a customer, John Gbam, who went to submit a letter of administration for his client said bank officials were yet to attend to him because they claimed they were yet to get clearance from the headquarters while one other said he went to reactivate his account which was receiving attention.
A POS service provider hovering around the bank premises confirmed that he was collecting deposit from customers with a charge fee of N500 and above depending on the amount, saying the process was very tedious.
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Reacting to the development, the Client Service Manager at Access Bank, Mr. Kandidus Okaranwa said the closure of internal banking services to customers was in compliance with the directives from the CBN which was enforced by the branch controller of the bank.
He however, said other services of the bank were ongoing from 8am to 6pm daily to ensure that all mobile applications were working including USSP for online banking services and assured customers that there will always be enough cash in ATM machines during the period of skeletal services.
