Banks won’t shut down services for polls: ACAMB

Before, during, and after the elections, all bank branches and internet platforms will be open for financial services, according to the Association of Corporate Affairs Managers of Banks (ACAMB).

This was said by the organization in a statement released on Wednesday in Lagos and signed by Rasheed Bolarinwa, its president.

Mr. Bolarinwa asserted that contrary to a fabricated press release, Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) had not been instructed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to suspend banking services for five days.

The Association of Corporate Affairs Managers of Banks has been made aware of a popular social media post claiming that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) was suspending banking services for five days from Thursday, February 23 to Monday, February 27, 2023, due to the general elections holding in Nigeria over next two weekends.

Assuring Nigerians and the financial community that the viral message being spread contains absolutely no reality, ACAMB now disproves the false information in its entirety.

“As of this time, the CBN has not issued any directives or communications ordering deposit money banks or other institutions that offer financial services to close their physical banking halls or disable their digital platforms and online banking channels in opposition to their customers due to elections.

Also, ACAMB wants to reassure consumers that their banks have taken steps to ensure that depositors can access money in their accounts normally throughout this time. Customers will also have unrestricted access to these services before, during, and after the elections if they choose to make transfers or use electronic banking services, the statement added.

The umbrella organization for corporate and marketing communications professionals in the banking industry of Nigeria, ACAMB, asked Nigerians not to panic and to refrain from reckless spending as a result of the false information.

Mr. Bolarinwa pleaded with Nigerians to disregard the popular message that had been fraudulently created by anonymous authors in an effort to alienate the populace and the DMBs.

(NAN)