Strike: Bank Customers Resort To ATM For Cash

pmnews-placeholder

As the nationwide strike called by labour entered the fifth day today, bank customers across the country have resorted to Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) for cash withdrawals to meet their everyday needs.

However, customers are experiencing mixed fortunes in some parts of the country, especially in areas where the machines were either not working or failed to dispense cash, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

In Kaduna, bank customers could not withdraw money from their banks following the 24-hour curfew imposed on the city by the state government.

“I could not go to the bank due to ongoing strike which has been further compounded by the curfew imposed on Tuesday by the state government,” a customer said.

Alhaji Ibrahim Shehu of Rigasa area of the metropolis complained that most of the banks were located in the central area, making it difficult for people to go out and withdraw money.

“There is restriction of movement in the metropolis; we cannot visit the ATMs to make withdrawals,” he said.

NAN learnt that although ATMs in many banks were dispensing money, few customers patronised them.

A security man in one of the banks, Michael Kaza, said an official of the bank always came to ensure the machines were functional.

Kaza, however, said since the curfew was imposed, no one had come to use the machine.

But in Gombe, bank customers were using ATMs to withdraw money from their accounts.

A customer, Miss Jedidah Solomon, who withdrew money from a branch of First Bank of Nigeria, said the machines had saved the situation for the people.

She said that without ATMs, people would have encountered difficulties in getting funds to run their homes, while the strike lasted.

In Port Harcourt, residents rely on ATMs for cash withdrawal to meet their needs.

A customer of a new generation bank, Mr. Chris Okeh, told NAN that he had been withdrawing cash from ATMs since the strike began.

” The ATM has been useful to me and other family friends. We have used it to get quick cash to buy food for our families.‘’ I thank God the markets are open while some other essential services are also running since the strike began,” Okeh said.

Mrs. Alice Brown, a businesswoman, said the ATM had been useful to her although it had been difficult for her to get bulk cash.

“It has not been possible to withdraw bulk cash to do business. ATMs have a limit one can withdraw in a day. We have to manage what we have and pray that this deadlock is broken,” she said.

However, Mr. Silas Ekeh, a civil servant, said an ATM he went to withdraw money had no cash for two days.

” I had to use another machine belonging to a different bank to get cash,” Ekeh said.

In Damaturu, there were long queues of persons wishing to use functional ATMs .

Malam Ali Habu said “First Bank ATM where I maintain account was not dispensing cash so I have come to Fidelity Bank to withdraw regardless of the extra charges.”

Meanwhile, some bank customers expressed fear that if the strike was not called off, money in the machines might finish, thereby compounding the problems of citizens.

Also in Jos, the people are enjoying the services of ATMs.

In banks on Ahmadu Bello way and Murtala Muhammed Way in central Jos, ATM machines are functioning well, NAN found.

Among banks are First Bank of Nigeria, Diamond Bank, Guarantee Trust Bank and Zenith Bank as well as Unity, Fidelity, Intercontinental and Enterprise banks.

NAN, however, learnt that few customers were making withdrawals from ATMs, according to security men in some bank branches.

“Throughout yesterday (Tuesday), only two people came to withdraw money from here,” a security man attached to Fidelity Bank said.

NAN learnt that many residents of Jos made panic withdrawals few days before the strike began.

But bank customers in Gusau, the capital of Zamfara state, shunned ATMs because they were not functioning.

In many commercial banks on Zaria and Canteen roads in the centre of Gusau, scores of customers who wanted to make withdrawals through ATMs, went away disappointed as the system was not functioning.

Malam Aliyu Ibrahim, a customer, said he was frustrated by the failure of ATMs to dispense cash since the strike began.

“This is the third day I am visiting this bank to make withdrawal to enable me to attend to some pressing domestic needs but the system failed me. “

A visit to another ATM machine in one of the banks on Canteen Road showed that scores of customers, who queued to withdraw money were not successful because the machine developed a fault.

In Bauchi, the citizens were enjoying a better deal on the third day of the strike as life was gradually returning to normal.

NAN found that banking services, transportation and health services had picked up.

Related News

On Bank Road, customers made use of ATMs in First Bank, Zenith, Mainstreet and Access banks.

A customer at one of the banks, Malam Abdullahi Kabir, said “I withdrew some amount last week Friday thinking it will be enough to last the strike.

“But the strike has come up with a lot of challenges, including some unforeseeable demands from family and relatives.”

Other customers at the ATM said they came to recharge their telephones to avoid spending cash at their disposal.

Malam Bashir Awwal, said, ‘’I need to conserve the raw cash at hand so that when the ATMs stop working, there will still be cash to spend.”

The people in Owerri are relying heavily on ATMs for cash withdrawal to solve domestic problems, NAN found on Wednesday.

A bank official on Bank Road, Owerri, who pleaded anonymity, said that financial institutions had in the last three days witnessed increased withdrawals through ATM.

He said banks had continued to feed in more cash into the machines to meet increased demand.

But a customer, Mr Chidiebere Agbakwuru, complained that the amount allowed to be withdrawn through ATM was limited to N100,000 a day, saying the situation had not helped his business.

A student, Miss Nkechi Ekeanyanwu, who accompanied a friend to a bank, said she was experiencing some difficulties because she had yet to get her ATM card from her bank.

She said she had resorted to borrowing money from friends to make ends meet.

In Asaba, many people were using ATMs on Wednesday.

NAN found that customers were making withdrawals from ATMs outside bank premises.

At the United Bank for Africa on Nnebisi Road by Ibusa Road junction, customers withdrew money from the ATM.

In spite of the fact that bank vehicles were in the premises of the bank, the offices were closed to customers.

Also at Oceanic Bank on Denis Osadebey Way, few persons were using the ATM, according to a NAN investigation.

A customer, who identified himself as Papa, said that ATMs had helped him in his barbing business as he had been able to access money to buy the materials for his job.

In an interview with NAN in the Delta state capital, Miss Beauty Asuen urged banks to be vigilant and guard against ATM fraud.

In Enugu, banks discreetly provided services to customers on Wednesday.

In places where banks provided operations, the main entrances to the premises remained closed.

The availability of bank services reduced the people’s reliance on ATMs for cash withdrawals.

Some customers commended the banks for providing services, saying they had lessened the burden of the strike on the people.

In Abakaliki, the people expressed happiness with the ATMs, saying they had helped them to access money.

Mr Paulinus Ogu, a trader told NAN that the functionality of the machines had made him withdraw money easily to run his business.

“Despite the long queue experienced at various banks for withdrawal, the security operatives in the banks direct customers to be orderly,” he said.

Mrs Tina Odaah, a businesswoman, bemoaned the closure of the banks, saying it had posed security threats to her.

“I cannot make payment into my account, as this has made me keep money at home and susceptible to robbery attacks,” she said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Bank customers in Abuja are also enjoying the services of ATMs, while the strike lasts as many of the machines are functioning, NAN correspondents found on Wednesday.

A customer, Malam Umar Inusa, told NAN that he withdrew money from the ATM machine at Zenith Bank without problem.

Also in Birnin Kebbi, bank customers enjoyed the services of ATMs.

While, armed security personnel guarded bank premises, customers had easy access to the ATMs.

Mr. Mathew Abraham told NAN that since the commencement of the strike, he had been withdrawing money easily from ATMs.

Abraham added that ”sometimes if money was not available, I waited for some hours to go back to the bank and use the machine and get money.”

Malam Ali Ubale said he had also patronised ATMs without hitches since the strike began.

Load more