Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) said it has paid a total sum of N116.258billion to depositors and customers of defunct banks last year.
Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim, managing director/CEO, spoke at the 14th International Trade Fair in Abuja, said the payment comprised insured and uninsured deposits of N108.641 billion, N2.973 billion, and N70.53 million to depositors of defunct deposit money banks (DMBs), micro finance banks (MfBs) and primary mortgage banks (PMBs).
Represented by Dr. Muhammed Ibrahim, director of Research of the Corporation, the CEO said as at June 30, this year, the number of subscribers to Mobile Money Operators (MMO) stood at 9,249,265.
“As it stands, the number of licensed MMOs by the CBN is 23, with eight being ‘Bank-Led’ and the remaining 15 ‘Non-Bank Led’.
“In the last quarter of 2018, the CBN revoked the licenses of 154 MfBs and six PMBs due to their insolvency, corporate governance issues, etc. Hence, the Corporation successfully liquidated the failed banks and has commenced payment to the depositors of the affected banks.
“As at 30th June, 2019, the Corporation received a total number of 35 petitions/complaints from banks customers on various issues such as ATM frauds, unauthorised funds transfers, cheque related issues and much more. Investigations and mediation were carried out where necessary and customers were appropriately reprieved.
“Recently, in collaboration with the CBN, the Corporation adopted a ’bridge bank’ resolution option in the resolution of Skye Bank Plc and the establishment of Polaris Bank Ltd.
“Consequently, Polaris Bank Ltd was able to continue banking operations in the 277 branches of the defunct Skye Bank, over 6,000 jobs were saved and depositors have unhindered access to their deposits in excess of N949.60 billion as at June 2018.”
Earlier, Mr. Adetokunbo Kayode, president, Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), identified deposit insurance as one of the important pre-requisites for building confidence of the depositors in the formal banking system.
Kayode, who was represented by Mrs. Tonia Sholeye, director-general, ACCI, said governments in developing and advanced economies grant formal deposit insurance with the aim of reducing the risk of systemic failure of banks.