COVID-19: Bank customers lament closure of branches

Customers of most of the commercial banks in the country continue to lament the closure of bank branches, which has made them besiege those open for operation to transact business.

As a result, it has become usual to see customers waiting in front of banks for to be attended to and most affected is the customer care section, which handles complaints from customers. One such bank is Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) where it is common to see customers in their hundreds, shoving one another to get access into the bank. Many of the affected customers took to social media to express their grievances. A customer, who identified himself as Emmanuel, decried the bank’s treatment of customers, saying, “I’m always baffled by the long queue, there is no adherence to COVID-19 guidelines and the bank isn’t helping matters. While other banks are putting out canopies and chairs outside the banking halls for customers, nothing of such is seen at GTBank. Are we supposed to spend hours standing outside to get one transaction done?” he queried.

When The Guardian visited the bank’s branch on Airport road on Monday, a scuffle almost broke out as customers were told there was network failure for over 30 minutes across all branches. Customers numbering over 40, including three mothers with babies, were seen standing under the sun, lamenting the poor treatment meted out to them. One of the bank’s staff that came out to address the already agitated crowd was shouted down.

Efforts to speak with the bank’s head of communications proved abortive, as calls went unanswered at the time of filing this report.