The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has advised bank customers
to always report cases of exorbitant charges by their financial institutions.
The central bank also disclosed that in collaboration with
law enforcement agencies, it recently arrested a group of currency mutilation
offenders in Ibadan, Oyo State, for abusing the Naira.
The Director, Corporate Communications, CBN, Mr Isaac
Okorafor, said this in Lagos at the weekend, during the CBN Day, at the just
concluded Lagos International Trade Fair.
Responding to questions on excessive ATM charges and other
bank charges, Okorafor said: “If you feel aggrieved that an ATM is extorting
you, if it happens, take out time to go your bank to protest. And if they deny,
do it in writing after you get their response and whether they respond or not,
just bring it to us through an email and we would take note of it.
“If consumers of financial services do not stand up to insist
on their rights, CBN would not be in any banking hall trying to protect you. So
please find time to report any wrong doings by the banks.”
He, however, explained that banking services that provide
convenience have had various levels of investments which customers need to pay
for, but not above the required pegged rate.
He further added: “Banking services are not free anywhere in
the world. If you can stay in your bedroom to make a transfer in the comfort of
your bedroom, someone is paying for it and it is not government subsidy.
“People have invested in the bank, switches and in all the
systems and those investments, people have made and they wait to reap from it. But
what the CBN would not do is to allow your banks to reap you off.”
Also, speaking on recent warning to those who mishandle the Naira, he said: “In collaboration with law enforcement agencies, we are happy
to record our first conviction of someone who abused the Naira in Ibadan
yesterday.
“We are collaborating with the Police because it is their
duty to enforce the law and we are also talking with the judiciary to ensure
that we provide mobile courts and judges are designated.”
He appealed to Nigerians to desist from abusing the Naira,
because those caught could go to jail.
Okorafor, also urged more women to approach banks for its
micro, small and medium scale enterprises loans, saying: “We have a special
place for women and we have increased the number of women we have because we
believe that women are more efficient, more reliable and more enterprising than
men.
“It is easy to give more loans to women because they will pay
back. They are not like those of us (men) who may not pay back.”
He said the Bank had developed schemes for financing
businesses especially the MSMEs through its development finance initiatives.
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