By Peter Egwuatu
Some customers are challenging banks for compelling them to use Automated Teller Machine (ATM) in contravention of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)'s directive.
An aggrieved customer, Mr. Kingsley Adegboye told Vanguard, how a bank embarrassed him when he was not allowed to withdraw from the bank's branch in Ogba.
According to him, "When I went into one branches of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc at Ogba (precisely Acme Road) to withdraw forty thousand naira, I was told to use the ATM and that if I must withdraw from the counter then it should not be less than one hundred thousand naira. I told the cashier that I don't use ATM card because I am not comfortable with the use of the cards because of the incessant hacking of the ATM cards by fraudsters.
Continuing, he said, "Has the CBN change the directive on the use of ATM card, because the apex bank had said that the use of ATM card is optional. That a customer can withdraw small amount of money that could be withdrawn from ATM, provided the customer is prepared to pay additional fee for the service. Why is it that UBA is compelling me to use ATM when I don't want to ? I am really confused and would need to be educated."
In another development, a customer, by name Paul Akpan, complained of UBA compelling him to apply for ATM card.
According to him, "Because of the experience my friend had with fraudster tampering with his card, I decided not to use ATM card. At least I will be comfortable if my bank charges extra fee if I withdraw from the counter than to lose my entire life saving to fraudster and the bank will not do anything to refund the money. So when my branch told me to obtain ATM card, I refused it vehemently and have been withdrawing from other branches of UBA.
The CBN in 2010 issued a circular which said that banks should not issue ATM cards without written request of the customer. According to the apex bank circular, "Banks shall bear liability for any fraud perpetrated with the use of cards issued without written request from the account holder".
Vanguard Nigeria