* Customers lament unannounced shutdown

* Other Banks Firm Up Measures To Protect Customers

Against the order of the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike that no bank should shut down its operations in Rivers State, Zenith Bank has allegedly shut its doors against its customers making the harsh effect of the lockdown occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic more excruciating for its customers.

The Rivers State Government through the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Paulinus Nsirim had frowned at reported cases of banks shutting down their operations in the State due to the curfew imposed by the State Governor, Nyesom Wike, clarifying that the curfew does not affect banks.  

“It has also come to the notice of the State Government that some Banks are closing down in the State.

The curfew is targeted  at only some parts of the State. Therefore, banks have no excuse to shut down their operations.”

The government warned that “Any Bank that is found to be closed will find it very difficult to reopen for business in the State”.

This is just as First Bank, Access Bank, Ecobank, United Bank for Africa, and Guaranty Trust Bank stepped up measures to protect their customers by enforcing hygiene and social distancing protocols in their banking halss and premises.

Checks by Kristina Reports across banks in Bonny Local Government Area of the State showed a rigid observation of these protocols in aforementioned banks, except Zenith Bank that shut is doors this morning with several of its customers stranded.

At First Bank, Access Bank, Ecobank, United Bank for Africa, and GTBank temperature test kits were being used by designated bank security personnel to check customers while handwahsing facitlities were provided at the entrance into the banking hall.

Furthermore, hand sanitizers were also provided at every desk within the banking halls of these banks for customers to use while the bank staff were seen wearing face masks.

Also, within the banking halls, social distancing procedures were being implemented as customers were spread apart and in some cases where there was a surge, a waiting point was provided for customers outside the banking halls within the premises for them to wait until the halls were free for another batch of customers to enter.

Branch Manager of Access Bank in Bonny, Precious Nwogu said “the measures were put in place to safeguard the lives of our customers becuase our customers are important to us as a bank. We are strictly observing these protocols to ensure no one is infected and everyone is safe”.

“As you can see, the handwashing place is there and then our guys here are checking the temperature of customers before they enter the premises and inside the hall, you can also see the social distancing protocol being observed”.

At First Bank, an official of the bank, who preferred anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, explained to Kristina Reports that “we are not shutting down. We are fully operational and you have also observed the hygiene protocols downstairs and also the social distancing procedures going on.”

“We are doing this to ensure that while our customers continue to enjoy seamless services they are also safe from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

At Zenith Bank, the bank gate was shut with no staff around except the security personnel and policemen on mufty. Also, at its automated teller machine stands there were no handwashing facilities or hand sanitizers neither were any staff of the bank enforcing the social distancing procedures.

When asked, onne of the security staff, who prefered anonymity, said they were not instructed to do so and there was no one to speak to at the time of Kristina Reports’ visit.

Later, one of the staff, who refused to identify himself, showed up and said it  was a directive from the bank’s headquarters, stressing that there was nothing anyone could do about it.

Some of the bank’s customers, who were stranded at the gate, told Kristina Reports that no prior information was given to them.

One of them, who preferred not to be named said her case was helpless as she does not have an ATM card or a smartphone to be able to use the bank’s mobile application.

“How can they do this to us? There was no text message or prior information,” she lamented, pleading with the security staff to help her withdraw even if a fraction of what she needed.