BVN: Newly-weds, rural dwellers most hit

Newly wed couples, especially those that got married in traditional way without official marriage certificate are those that are mostly affected

Major victims of the court ruling ordering the freezing of all bank accounts without valid Bank Verification Number (BVN) have shown that most hit are newly-weds, especially those that got married in the traditional way.

National Daily gathered that this was as a result of their inability to present official marriage certificate which will encourage them to go for official change of name.

Apart from these group, another set of customers affected are those who have different names order in another bank account which are different with their first bank.

But to give quick aid and assistance, banks have started sending text messages and electronic mails to customers without BVN, asking them to come and complete the biometric registration process.

Checks in some banks between Monday and Tuesday showed that there were no queues in banking halls for people who come for their BVN issue.

A top official of the one of the banks who spoke with National Daily said where they have the challenge most are in rural and some urban account holders who are married but without a valid marriage certificate so that their change of name publication in a national daily will be seamless.

“Many of them here in Lagos when the BVN was hot had been able find a way to resolve their differences and are now running their accounts without any hitches.

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Continuing, the banker said “If I may advise, let government give those working and living in rural areas more time to resolve their BVN differences so as not to cut them off from the growing financial inclusion we the banks are currently driving”.

It would be recalled that the High Court ruling mandated the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and 19 Deposit Money Banks to freeze the bank accounts of customers without the BVN.

According to some banks, percentage of account holders without BVN is not up to 25 per cent when compared with those that have complied.

Though efforts to find out an average total amount of funds that will be trapped if the order is effectively implemented failed as the banks were silent, saying such details are against the operating principles of banking profession.

Some analysts say one of the targets of the government is working towards freezing the accounts without BVCN is to jump on laundered funds whose owners were caught napping since the introduction of the BVN regime.