Chinwendu Obienyi
To make banking accessible to all Nigerians and to achieve the laudable goal of financial inclusion set by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), First City Monument Bank (FCMB) recently launched the FCMB Easy Account.
The product is an enhanced version of its *329# Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) platform and the significant and value-added feature of this product is that the telephone numbers of the Bank’s customers, without the first digit, serve as their respective account numbers.
In a statement, the Bank explained that the newly launched is a product open to all, particularly to meet the needs of low-income earners and the unbanked segment of the society, adding that it enables account holders have access to convenient and secured financial services, irrespective of their locations.
Commenting on the new offering, Managing Director, FCMB Adam Nuru, said what the Bank has unveiled, is a part of its long-term strategic plan to embark on a digital transformation initiative where it aspires to scale business operations, build capabilities and find the best way to simplify banking for customers, using technology.
Nuru who was represented by the Bank’s Executive Director, Finance, Yemisi Edun, said, “every day we are developing digital innovations and ideas that will make our relationship with our customers seamless in so many areas including Channels Management among others. FCMB Easy Account is one of such innovative offerings that make Banking services available across all informal segments, particularly the unbanked. It is banking made easy. All you need is to own any type of mobile phone, and you do not even necessarily need to buy data”.
Also speaking, Executive Director, Retail Banking, FCMB, Olu Akanmu, said the FCMB Easy Account forms part of the Bank’s core strategy to innovate and expand its service channels by promoting and deepening financial inclusion and the cashless policies of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).