Nigerian bank customers have continued to express frustration over what they describe as unauthorised and excessive debits from their accounts, calling on the Bank Customers Association of Nigeria (BCAN) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to step in and protect their rights.
Several customers, who spoke to newsmen in Abuja on Sunday, said the mounting deductions were discouraging, unnecessary, and increasingly unbearable in the face of the country’s economic challenges.
A First HoldCo Plc customer, Mrs Helen Agodo, told the News Agency of Nigeria that she had been battling daily debit alerts from her bank.
“In fact, I do not blame some people who decide not to put their monies in a bank. There was a day I calculated the debit alert charges that I received from my bank, it was up to ₦1,000 in just one day,” she said.
“You can now imagine the total amount the bank will get if they do the same deduction from, like, 1,000 to 2,000 of their customers.”
She appealed to BCAN to engage the CBN and other regulatory agencies to halt the unauthorised deductions.
Another customer, Cheta Ugochukwu, who banks with Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, described the charges as “unfair and insincere.”
“Personally, I do all my transactions electronically, and I thought that is the basis for the cashless policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria. My bank charged me about **₦1,146 as SMS alerts for one month. This, to me, is too much,” she said.
She added that she was also billed ₦100 as an electronic money transfer levy, contrary to the ₦50 stipulated in regulation.
“I wonder how they calculate this because it is unfair with the current state of the economy,” Ugochukwu said.
She urged BCAN to create more awareness of its activities and constantly engage customers nationwide.
A Fidelity Bank customer, Usman Idris, alleged that over ₦3,700 was deducted from his current account as maintenance charges without prior notice.
“When I reported to the bank for clarification, they asked me to write officially. This was shocking because when they wanted to withdraw my money, they did not ask for my clarification. This is so sad,” Idris lamented.
Banks Defend Deductions
However, a bank official, who declined to be named, defended the charges, saying they were made in line with the CBN guide to bank charges.
Naija News understands that the Bank Customers Association of Nigeria (BCAN), led by its President, Uju Ogubunka, has already written to the CBN on the matter, according to NAN.
BCAN, a non-profit organisation, serves as the collective voice for Nigerian bank customers, advocating for customer rights and educating the public on efficient banking practices. Its membership includes both individuals and corporate account holders.
The association has promised to intensify its push to stop exploitative charges and foster a more transparent banking culture in the country.
The post Customers Lament Multiple Bank Charges, Urge BCAN, CBN To Intervene appeared first on Naija News.
