First Bank Records N656.3bn From 38.51m Transactions During COVID-19 Lockdown
First Bank of Nigeria Limited has announced a record of 38.51 million transactions amounting to a total N656.3 billion across various platforms in the last two weeks of the lockdown of the Nigerian economy.
President Muhammadu Buhari announced that Lagos state, the commercial hub of the country and also the federal capital territory (FCT) be lockdown from 11 pm on Monday, March 30 in measures to curb the spread the deadly coronavirus that has at Thursday night recorded 288 cases and seven deaths across the country. Lagos State had earlier been on lockdown for a week, paralysing business activities prior to President Buhari proclamation
Despite this situation, the bank recorded the huge transactions which it attributed to the resilience of its Nigerian customers whom the management has reassured of its steadfastness and readiness to show up for them at these “unprecedented times.”
Details of the transaction for the period shows that it recorded 5 million transactions from its 53,000 agents across the federation with differing values in the period.
This was in addition to 2.5 million withdrawals of a total N35 billion across the bank’s Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) and 1,700 successful transactions worth 6.8 billion by its larger corporate customers on the e-bills platform.
First bank customers also used the cards 21 million times to make payments of withdrawals worth N268 million for settlement of their banking needs while over 10 million transfers with a total value of N615 billion were also recorded. across the bank’s digital channels as at the close of the day on Thursday
Chief executive officer, First Bank Adesola Adeduntan hailed Nigerian customers for their resilience especially in the last two weeks that the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has ravaged the country.
“As I reflect on the last two weeks, I am comforted by the resilience of our people,” noted the bank’s chief who further assured its customers that the bank was working tirelessly to ensure that banking transactions continue seamlessly and that COVID-19 will neither slow it down nor defeat its workforce.
“Expertise and resilience are in FirstBank’s DNA. We are holding up our side, and COVID-19 will not slow us down.”
“More than ever before, the bank will uphold its promise to its customers to be there for them “and put them First.
Adeduntan said the bank’s service is recognition of its role in keeping the engine going, keeping society going and recognise further that it is the responsibility to remain at the forefront of this.
“Our unparalleled network and total coverage of the nation serve us all well at this time; ensuring that safe alternative channels are available for our customers 24/7.
“Rest assured that we are in this together and together, we will emerge stronger at the end of this period because this too shall pass,” he further assured.
Adeduntan, while reassuring Nigerians of FirstBank’s commitment to supporting the fight against COVID-19, however, said that customers can reach the bank via its email – [email protected] and through their relationship managers, throughout the lockdown period.
Established in 1894 (125 years ago), FirstBank has consistently built relationships with customers focusing on the fundamentals of good corporate governance, strong liquidity, optimised risk management and leadership.
Over the years, the Bank has led the financing of private investment in infrastructure development in the Nigerian economy by playing key roles in the Federal Government’s privatization and commercialisation schemes.
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