Business
Customers React As Bank Installs New ATMs In Ahoada
Following the recent in
stallation of more Automated Teller Machines to complement the existing four by the First Bank of Nigeria (FBN) Ahoada branch, customers have expressed divergent views on the development.
A cross section of the customers who spoke to our correspondent on the move by the bank said the provision of two or more ATMs would not make any difference so long as cash was not made available in the machines.
Chimere Ukadike, a businessman who spoke to our correspondent said, “it is a matter of the availablility of cash and not the provision of more ATM service points”.
Promise Uchendu, a fashion designer, explained that though the move would help in reducing queues both in the banking halls and at the ATMs the availability of cash remained the bone of contention.
For Rosemary Ukadike, a house wife, her concern was the policy of using the ATM when withdrawing N100,000 and below.
According to her, the policy should be reviewed considering the fact that most ATMs pay piece meal thereby forcing customers to pay what she described as “forced charges”.
She opined that allowing bank customers to use the banking halls would help decongesting long queues and also save time of banking transaction.
Efforts to speak with the manager of the bank was not successful as he was said to be in a meeting.
However, a staff who asked not to be named said the additional ATMs were intended to serve the customers better.
He explained that the decision to install the machines outside the premises of the bank was to enable customers carry on their transactions early in the mornings and at night when the bank would have closed or not yet open for business.
The Tide gathered taht headquarters of the Ahoada East Local Government Area has only two banks, namely First Bank and Ecobank, although Skye bank located within the premises of the LGA headquarters also renders services.
The two main banks have the challenge of exhibiting effective service to her customers from Abua Odual,, Ahoada East and West, Elele-Alimini, amongst others.