Many bank customers across Nigeria have continued to lament what they describe as arbitrary and excessive charges on their accounts, despite repeated complaints to financial institutions.

In separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday, customers urged the Bank Customers Association of Nigeria (BCAN) to step in and protect their rights.

Mrs. Helen Agodo, a customer of First HoldCo Plc, said daily debits from her account had become unbearable.

“There was a day I calculated the debit alert charges I received from my bank — it was up to ₦1,000 in just one day. Imagine what the bank makes if this is deducted from 1,000 or 2,000 customers,” she said.

Miss Cheta Ugochukwu, a Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) customer, described the charges as unfair and unsustainable.

“My bank charged me about ₦1,146 for SMS alerts in one month. I was even billed ₦100 as Electronic Money Transfer Levy, instead of the ₦50 stipulated by regulation. This is unfair given the state of the economy,” she lamented.

Mr. Usman Idris, a Fidelity Bank customer, said more than ₦3,700 was deducted from his current account as maintenance charges.

“When I asked for clarification, the bank told me to write officially. But when they wanted to withdraw my money, they did not ask for clarification. This is so sad,” he said.

Banks, Regulators React

A bank official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, maintained that deductions were in line with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) approved guide to bank charges.

NAN recalls that BCAN, led by its President, Uju Ogubunka, has already written to the CBN to address the growing discontent among customers.

The association, a non-profit organisation, serves as the collective voice for Nigerian bank customers, advocating for their rights and fostering fair banking practices.