The Nigerian Army in conjunction with First Bank of Nigeria Limited on Tuesday launched “Agent Banking Scheme” for army personnel at the 20 Battalion Serti in Taraba.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai explained that the aim of the scheme was to bring banking services closer to the barracks community especially the officers’ wives.
“This scheme will in no small measure, enhance economic activities within the barracks and their host community,” he said.
He recalled that during his visit to the Serti Barrack in 2016, officers’ wives had complained that the only bank in the Local Government Area is the United Bank for Africa (UBA) and it was not adequate for their needs.
“The partnership between Nigerian Army Welfare Limited/Guarantee, is to provide easier and more convenient ways of banking for our personnel.
“Agent banking helps you to save money and time from going to the nearest bank branch or queuing at the ATM points,” Buratai said.
He urged officers and soldiers trained to run the scheme to do so transparently and in accordance with financial rules and regulations to ensure sustainability.
In his remarks, the Group Executive, Retail Banking North, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Shehu Aliyu, said they were proud of the relationship with the Nigerian Army Welfare Limited/Guarantee.
“We commend your initiative of coordinating the welfare of members of the Nigerian army,” Aliyu said.
Aliyu said that FirstBank on its part would continue to respect the mutual understanding that exists between the financial institution and the Nigerian army which he said would foster military, civil relationship.
Appreciating the welfare and empowerment schemes undertaken in the barracks during the tenure of Buratai, an officer’s wife, Mrs. Nneka Timothy, said that establishing the scheme would facilitate commercial activities in the community.
She said the 302 soldiers’ wives in the 20 Model Battalion Serti had never had it as good as the tenure of Buratai.
Mrs. Timothy said that Buratai had also empowered women in various skills such as Information Communication Technology (ICT), Tailoring, Shoe Making, Hair Dressing, Soap Making and Catering. (NAN).
First Bank of Nigeria Limited (FirstBank) is the premier Bank in West Africa and the leading banking services solutions provider in Nigeria for 125 years. With some 15 million customer accounts, FirstBank provides a comprehensive range of retail and corporate financial services with over 750 business locations. The Bank has international presence through its subsidiaries, FBN Bank (UK) Limited in London and Paris, FBNBank in the Republic of Congo, Ghana, The Gambia, Guinea, Sierra-Leone and Senegal, as well as a Representative Office in Beijing.
Since its establishment in 1894, FirstBank has consistently built relationships with customers focusing on the fundamentals of good corporate governance, strong liquidity, optimised risk management and leadership. Over the years, the Bank has led the financing of private investment in infrastructure development in the Nigerian economy by playing key roles in the Federal Government’s privatisation and commercialisation schemes. With its global reach, FirstBank provides prospective investors wishing to explore the vast business opportunities that are available in Nigeria, an internationally competitive world-class brand and a credible financial partner.
FirstBank has been named “Most Valuable Bank Brand in Nigeria” six times in a row (2011 – 2016) by the globally renowned “The Banker Magazine” of the Financial Times Group; “Best Retail Bank in Nigeria” for seven consecutive years (2011 – 2017) by the Asian Banker International Excellence in Retail Financial Services Awards and “Best Bank in Nigeria” by Global Finance for 15 years. Our brand purpose is to always put customers, partners and stakeholders at the heart of our business, even as we standardise customer experience and excellence in financial solutions across sub-Saharan Africa, in consonance with our brand vision “To be the partner of first choice in building your future”. Our brand promise is to always deliver the ultimate “gold standard” of value and excellence. This commitment is anchored on our inherent values of passion, partnership and people, to position You First in every respect.
-Adamu is with the NAN.