Crowd as banks open for business, disburse cash

Crowd of customers, yesterday besieged banks in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Lagos and other states in the country in line with the directive of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) that Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) should open for business to address the lingering naira scarcity.

Daily Trust on Sunday observed that customers were seen standing in queues to enter banking halls one after another, while others made use of the Automated Tell Machines (ATMs) in Lagos.

First Bank, Wema Bank, Polaris, Access Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank, among others, opened for operation in Ikeja, Victoria Island and other areas of Lagos State.

A customer, Idowu Phillips, who made withdrawal at First Bank, Ogba, said the CBN’s directive would end the cash crunch in a matter of days.

“I met a huge crowd but we were promptly attended to. While some customers made use of the ATMs, others, including myself, were attended to at the counter. It was smooth and I was able to get N20,000 cash, made up of old notes,” he said.

Other customers also expressed satisfaction with the directive, stressing that it would ease the pain of Nigerians, especially during the Ramadan season, as well as the forthcoming Easter period.

Daily Trust on Sunday reports that bank branches were open on Saturday across different locations in the FCT.

For instance, Unity Bank in the Central Business District opened, with customers trooping in to get cash.

The same scenario played out at Zenith Bank, FCMB and First Bank branches in the Jabi district of the FCT.