By Stanley Opara and Ademola Alawiye

Tuesday, 11 Jan 2011

There are strong indications that some customers of Intercontinental Bank Plc, Oceanic International Bank Plc and Unity Bank Plc are still apprehensive of the threat by the Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions to picket the banks.

This fear resulted in the influx of bank customers into the banks to withdraw deposits in their accounts, our correspondent gathered on Monday.

The President, Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions, Mr. Sunday Salako, had said the banks had indicated willingness to settle the dispute, which arose from the recent sacking of some workers by the three banks.

Salako said, ”They have started reaching out to us, so negotiations have begun in earnest.”

He explained that Intercontinental Bank started negotiations on Friday, while Oceanic Bank and Unity Bank had slated meetings for Monday and Tuesday, respectively.

Bank sources had also admitted that the management of the banks had had meaningful discussion with the association on the matter.

The managements of the three banks had also advised customers to go about their business as none of the banks‘ branches would be picketed.

A banker at the Obalende, Lagos branch of one of the banks, who would not want his name mentioned, told our correspondent that most customers were still ignorant of the true position of things, and were still acting on past information.

He said, ”Today alone, before 12 noon, the number of withdrawal cases has been really high. In fact, you see the anxiety in the faces of customers.

”Some people think our bank is liquidating. That is to tell you how ignorant some people are. I think bank customers should be really informed.”

Our correspondent also gathered from a banker at one of the banks‘ branch at Ikeja that the situation needed to be properly managed more. She said most customers were having their confidence in the banks eroding fast for no just cause.

The Central Bank of Nigeria, had, however said that its attention had been drawn to SMS text messages being circulated alleging that the CBN was about liquidating Oceanic, Intercontinental and Unity banks.

According to a statement by the apex bank, signed by its Head, Corporate Affairs, Mr. Mohammed Abdullahi, ”The CBN wishes to state categorically that no such liquidation notice has been issued and there is therefore no plan to liquidate any of the three banks and members of the public are advised to disregard these messages.

”All depositors and customers of Oceanic, Intercontinental and Unity banks are hereby advised to continue to conduct their business with the banks.

But ASSBIFI had insisted that the plan to picket the banks remained unchanged until the ongoing negotiations came to a fruitful end.

 

Source: Punch