E-Financial
NDIC Reduces Insurance Premium for Banks
The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) yesterday said it had approved the reduction of insurance premium paid by Deposit Money Banks from 0.5 per cent to 0.35 per cent.
The new premium-based insurance rate of 0.35 per cent, according to the corporation, is expected to take effect from next year.
Umar Ibrahim, Managing Director/Chief Executive, NDIC, disclosed these at the 25th anniversary press conference held at the corporation’s headquarters in Abuja.
The decision to reduce the insurance premium, he said, was part of the corporation’s contribution not only to failure resolution, but to the Financial Stability Fund.
This, he added, would help the corporation reduce cost of funds incurred by deposit money banks, thus ensuring stability of the banking sector.
He said, “Another contribution to failure resolution by the NDIC is in its contribution to the Financial Stability Fund by the downward review of premium payable by banks through a reduction of the assessment rate from 50 to 40 and further to 35 basis points.
“That was done to encourage banks in their contribution to the Financial Stability Fund and reduce the cost of funds by deposit money banks.”
Shedding more light on the development,, Zaccheaus Anate, director, Insurance and Surveillance Department, NDIC said the 0.35 per cent reduction on insurance premium would commence from next year.
He said when the premium was first reduced in 2010 from 0.5 per cent to 0.4 per cent, the corporation was able to reduce the amount of insurance premium paid by banks by N53bn.
He said, “In support of the financial stability fund, in 2010, we reduced the premium based rate from 0.5 per cent to 0.4 per cent and that took effect from 2011 up to this year and that is for four years and for this four year period, we have had a reduction of N53bn as a result of reduction in the base rate from 0.5 to 0.4.
“Now, from next year, there is going to be an additional reduction in the base rate from this 0.4 per cent to 0.35 per cent from next year and definitely that will lead to additional reduction for banks.
“We want to make sure that we reduce premium burden for banks and also to make sure that the deposit insurance is fairly priced. We want to support the banks to make sure they succeed.”
Giving a performance of the corporation in the last 25 years in the area of distress resolution, the NDIC MD said that as at the end of August, it had paid a cumulative sum of N93.64bn as liquidation dividend to 250,497 depositors
He also noted that the NDIC had declared a final dividend of 100 per cent of total deposits in respect to 14 closed banks as at December 2013.
This, according to him, is an indication that all depositors in those banks had fully recovered their deposits.
Furthermore, Ibrahim stated that the sum of N1.72bn was declared as dividends to 699 creditors of the nine banks.
Out of that amount, the corporation, he explained, had paid the sum of N1.19bn to 424 creditors who filed their claims as at August 31, 2014.
Similarly, he added that the corporation had paid liquidation dividend to 453 shareholders of Alpha, Pan African and Nigeria Merchant Bank, which stood at N2.03bn as at August 31, 2014.
With regards to liquidation activities, he stated that the corporation had made a lot of achievements in ensuring that depositors of liquidated banks suffer as little loss as possible.
He said. “Following the revocation of the operating licenses of insured DMBs in 1994, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2003 and 2006, as well as the 103 MFBs in 2010, 83 in 2013 and 26 PMBs, the NDIC ensured the prompt payment of insured sums and dividends to uninsured depositors and other eligible claimants.
“A cumulative amount of N6.82bn was paid to 528,277 insured depositors of the 48 DMBs in-liquidation as at August 31, 2014.
“While for the 186 closed MFBs, the cumulative amount of N2.75bn had been paid to 80,059 verified depositors as at 31st August, 2014.”
Despite these achievements, the MD, however lamented that the corporation is still being faced with a lot of challenges.
Some of them are its inability to locate some of the closed Primary Mortgage Banks whose licenses were revoked by CBN; litigations by former shareholders of closed banks and creditors of the closed banks.
Others are unsatisfactory rendition of returns by some MFBs; and delays in the legal and judicial process in relation to failed banks cases.
For instance, he said till date, Peak Merchant Bank one of the 36 banks closed between 1994 and 2003 is still contesting the withdrawal of its license in court while Savannah Bank is yet to resume operation after court had passed judgment in its favour.
This, he lamented had made it difficult for innocent depositors of the two banks to have access to their trapped funds.
He also said awareness about the corporation’s activities remains low despite all the efforts to improve it, noting that a recent survey on public awareness commissioned by the corporation, indicated that the level of awareness was about 40 per cent.
Despite the challenges facing the corporation, the NDIC boss said the board, management and staff are determined to ensure that it achieves its broad mandate of protecting depositors and providing a stable financial system in Nigeria.
Ecobank Nigeria has announced the successful repayment of the outstanding principal and accrued interest on its original $300 million Eurobond due February 16, 2026, marking a significant milestone in its liability management strategy and overall balance sheet strengthening efforts.
Following the full repayment of the Eurobond obligations, the Bank stated that it will now focus its funding initiatives primarily on the domestic capital markets. T
his strategic shift reflects growing confidence in Nigeria’s local debt market and aligns with Ecobank Nigeria’s long-term objective of optimising funding costs while deepening its participation in the domestic financial ecosystem.
“Going forward, Ecobank Nigeria will prioritise domestic credit ratings and local debt issuance to achieve its funding objectives,” stated Ogorchukwu Okwechime, Financial Controller, Ecobank Nigeria, in Lagos.
He added that the successful repayment reinforces the Bank’s commitment to maintaining a resilient balance sheet and sustaining investor confidence.
The tender offer was conducted with Renaissance Capital Africa (Renaissance Securities Nigeria Limited) acting as financial adviser and dealer manager, while Sodali & Co Limited served as tender agent.
The notes were originally issued by EBN Finance Company B.V., with limited recourse to the issuer, for the sole purpose of financing the purchase of the US$300 million 7.125 per cent Senior Note due 2026 issued by Ecobank Nigeria.
The transaction underscores Ecobank Nigeria’s proactive approach to liability management, prudent capital planning, and strategic alignment with evolving market conditions.
It further positions the Bank to leverage domestic funding opportunities while maintaining financial flexibility and operational stability.
Bank of Industry (BOI) has received approval from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to operate a Non-Interest Banking (NIB) Window.
Theodora Amechi, bank’s divisional head, Public Relations, said the regulatory nod allows BOI to launch non-interest banking operations, targeting underserved business segments with tailored financial solutions to support Nigeria’s industrial development.
BOI stated that NIB operations will promote inclusive growth, attract ethical funding, bolster the real economy, and finance customer assets and raw materials using approved non-interest products.
“This approval authorises BOI to commence Non-Interest Banking operations, positioning the bank to further advance Nigeria’s sustainable and inclusive industrial development through tailored financial solutions for underserved and high-impact business segments.
“The Non-interest Banking operations will enable BOI to drive inclusive growth, mobilise new ethical funding, expand support for the real economy, and align its financing activities with social and developmental objectives.
According to the bank, under this framework, BOI will be able to finance customers’ assets and raw materials using approved Non-Interest Banking products.
Announcing this milestone, Dr Olasupo Olusi, MD/CEO, Bank of Industry, said, “This licence marks a pivotal moment in the Bank’s journey of transforming Nigeria’s industrial sector. With this licence, we can reach a new category of borrowers who, before now, could not be served.”
He said the approval underscores the CBN’s confidence in the Bank’s commitment to responsible financing, adding that it will allow the bank to scale its operations, introduce innovative financing solutions, and deepen support for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), as well as other underserved segments critical to Nigeria’s sustainable economic growth.
“BOI’s decision to commence Non-Interest Banking operations is aimed at expanding access to ethical funding for businesses—particularly those that have traditionally avoided conventional interest-based financing.
This initiative opens new opportunities for ethically motivated and faith-sensitive enterprises, as well as segments of the economy that face challenges accessing traditional credit.
It enables such businesses to access much-needed financing and participate confidently in the formal financial system in a manner consistent with their values and business realities.
Bank of Industry (BOI) is Nigeria’s foremost Development Finance Institution, committed to driving industrial growth and inclusive economic development,” Olusi said.
Established in 1959 as the Investment Company of Nigeria (ICON) and reconstituted as Nigerian Industrial Development Bank (NIDB) under World Bank guidance in 1964.
The Bank assumed its current form in 2001 following the merger of the Nigerian Bank for Commerce and Industry (NBCI) and the National Economic Reconstruction Fund (NERFUND).
The Bank’s primary mandate is to provide financial assistance for the establishment and expansion of large, medium, small-scale, and micro projects.
Zenith Bank Plc has cautioned the public against fraudulent videos circulating online falsely claiming that Group Chairman Dr. Jim Ovia endorses an investment scheme called “Wealth Bridge.”
Jim Ovia
In a disclaimer issued Tuesday by its management, the bank described the videos—circulated via the “Greece Island” Facebook handle—as entirely fake, doctored content bearing no connection to Dr. Ovia, the bank, or its affiliates.
The materials falsely promise up to N2 million in weekly returns for a N380,000 investment, while baselessly alleging Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) endorsement and redirecting viewers to a sham “Arise News” webpage with a signup portal.
“Our attention has been drawn to a doctored video and still pictures currently circulating on social media, purporting to depict the Group Chairman of Zenith Bank Plc (‘the Bank’) as endorsing an investment scheme called ‘Wealth Bridge’ on the ‘Greece Island’ Facebook handle and soliciting members of the public to engage in a business relationship with the so-called entity,” the statement read.
“This claim is entirely false and has no connection whatsoever to the Group Chairman, the Bank or any of its affiliate companies.”
Zenith Bank stressed that Dr. Ovia and the institution have no knowledge of or partnership with “Wealth Bridge,” “delicious sitee,” “AfriQuantumX,” “Stock market analyst 1,” or related entities. The public was warned that dealing with these schemes carries full personal risk.
Ravenewsonline urges vigilance against rising impersonation scams targeting financial institutions.
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