How Nigerian Banks Have Fared Serving Customers & In Fight Against Coronavirus

Eniola Adeniyi

The pieces of evidence are all over, Nigerian Banks lead the charge in the fight against the threats of Covid-19 – and doing better than anticipated in protecting the interests of the customers. The Banks have shown exemplary leadership with massive contributions that span donations of funds, facilities, and materials.

The donations of funds range from N1billion to facilitate the building of 1000-bed isolation centers across the 6 geopolitical zones of the country (Access Bank), 5 billion Naira (USD14 million), through the UBA Foundation, to catalyze a comprehensive pan-African response (UBA), N1bn towards the joint effort by the Nigerian Private Sector Coalition Against COVID-19 (First Bank) amongst others.

The 110-bed Isolation facility built within a week and handed over to the Lagos State government (Guaranty Trust Bank) and 400 specialized hospital beds along with mattresses and accessories (Polaris Bank) are examples of the efforts in support with facilities and materials in the fight against Covid-19.

And it is to growing applause that the banks have maintained strong advocacy for social distancing while providing robust services on alternate channels in lockdown areas.

Polaris Bank to its credit defines the vibrancy of the social distancing campaign of the banks.

Polaris Bank right from the word go, made “social distancing” the pivot of it’s contribution to the fight against coronavirus.

With impressionable themes such as ‘Social Distancing Works Best With Polaris Mobile Banking Application” at the early stages of the awareness about Covid 19 and ” Need To Go To The Branch..No, social distancing starts with me” as the concerns of the spread of Coronavirus heightens, Polaris Bank threw in campaigns like “Self – Isolation Starts From You!..do your banking transactions from the comfort of your home” as lockdown is ordered in some states and ramped up the efficiency of its alternative banking channels while retaining skeletal services in select branches.

And like all the banks visited by our sources – and reporter –  Polaris Bank follows World (WHO) Health Organisation and Nigeria Centre For Disease Control (NCDC) directives by providing sanitizer s, thermometer guns and ensuring social distancing at the select branches in operation.

Information at hand revealed that outside of effective regular banking services, Polaris Bank has shown exceptional care for its customers by – amongst other things -retrogressively waiving charges for loan customers beginning from March 1, 2020.