BVN: Customers besiege banks in Ibadan

BVN: Customers besiege banks in Ibadan

customers in the Ibadan metropolis on Tuesday experienced long queues in a bid to verify the authenticity of their Bank Verification Numbers, as directed by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that many of the customers were seen in a confused state as majority of them wondered why they had to re-verify their BVN.

Some of the customers who spoke with NANsaid they were at the banks because of the text messages they received from the banks.

Mr Taiwo Akeju, a customer, said he was surprised to receive a text massage from his bank asking him to‎ visit any of the branches, due to differences in account details.

According to Akeju, the BVN was issued through Skye Bank and was submitted to his other accounts with other banks, including UBA, but the UBA said his BVN was not linked to his account.

Another customer, Yemi Ipoola, described the development as frustrating, due to the rigorous queues and long processes in order to re-enroll or complete the BVN exercise.

“I was at the bank to withdraw cash from the ATM but could not as the machine wrote out the message that the transaction was incomplete.

“I came in to complain and the bank official I complained to asked me to take a new BVN form to complete and wait for verification, which I have done before,” he said‎.

Mr Chigbo Nwadi, wondered why he could not withdraw from his account after the bank confirmed his BVN which he registered for, over a year ago.

“This is very bad, we must change our attitude to effect the ‘change’ we are clamoring for,” he said.

An official of one of the banks who pleaded anonymity said the bank regretted any inconveniences to customers.

According to the official, some of the customers did not want to follow the CBN directive on the BVN, hence the need for proper documentation.

“I can tell you that even some bank officials were also affected. Our accounts were as well frozen,” he said.

“Do you know that some of those who own accounts deliberately refused to register due to one frivolous reason or the other?” she said.

NAN reports that due to the development, many banks in the Challenge area of the Oyo state capital were stormed by customers, either to complain or complete their BVN exercise.