Burdened by harsh operating environment typified by epileptic power supply, rising cost of diesel, currently over N800 per litre, insecurity, among others, Access Bank has adjusted its operating hours in some branches mostly in the hinterland, reducing its closing time to customers to 3:00 pm.
Consequently, it has advised its customers to consider processing most of their transactions via its digital channels.The bank in a notification entitled ‘Adjusted Closing Time for Select Branches’to its esteemed customers containing the list of the branches and the states where they operate said:
“You can simply process most of your transactions via our digital channels, as a few of our Access Bank branches nationwide will be closed at 3 pm from the 29th of August, 2022.“Other branches will however be open as usual from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, the bank said, promising to constantly keep its customers informed of changes.
Earlier in the year, some banks had taken similar measures in response to the energy crisis that saw diesel prices moving up without any reprieve and neither solutions from appropriate authorities.
The operating clime has continued to deteriorate with the Central Bank of Nigeria trying both the orthodox and modern monetary policy measures, but, with the much needed positive impact yet to be felt.
Also, governments at all levels have been caught in the web of hostilities by bandits and terrorists that have displaced farmers from their farmlands and have also displaced lives and livelihood.
In deed , Nigeria’s inflationary pressure hit a 17-year high of 19.64 per cent in July even as the prices of energy (diesel) have refused to come down, while electricity remains elusive and some Nigerians continue to pay for darkness under the guise of estimated billings.