Access Bank chairman, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Access Bank logo
By Victory Oghene
Depositors and customers of one of Nigeria’s leading financial institutions, Access Bank, will experience some hiccups in accessing their accounts as the lender announced that it would temporarily shut services for a system upgrade aimed at optimising its offerings to customers.
In an email sent to its customers on Tuesday, the bank said that the upgrade will take place in phases, starting on Saturday, October 12, at 10 pm and ending on Sunday, October 13, at 6:30 am.
The bank stated that during this period, customers may experience temporary service disruptions on the Access More app, Internet Banking platform, and ATMs.
The message read, “Dear Valued Customer, in line with our continuous drive to better serve you, we embarked on a comprehensive system upgrade to optimise the functionality of our systems.
“The upgrade exercise, which will take place in phases, starts on Saturday, October 12 at 10pm to Sunday, October 13, 2024 at 6:30 am (West African Time).”
However, the bank assured customers that their cards will remain operational, and the *901# service will still be available for funds transfers, airtime and data purchases, as well as bill payments.
“During this period, there will be a temporary service disruption on our Access More app, Internet Banking platform, and ATMs. However, your card will work seamlessly and *901# will be available for funds transfer, airtime, and data purchase as well as bill payment.
“Upon completion of this exercise, service across all channels will be fully restored,” the bank stated.
The bank also emphasised its commitment to keeping customers informed about subsequent phases of the upgrade exercise.
Recall that the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria and the Body of Banks’ Chief Executive Officers in Nigeria have expressed concern over the persistent criticisms directed at Nigerian banks on social media.
In the same vein, the Central Bank of Nigeria has emphasised its commitment to the stability of the country’s financial system, highlighting that regular stress tests are conducted to identify potential vulnerabilities in banks.