Every bank customer has got a clear understanding of what they expect from their respective banks. More so in the new era of increasing competition among financial institutions to get their customers satisfied. Service level by banks has increased significantly also in their attempt to woo new customers and get existing customers satisfied. Apart from service level expectations from your financial services provider, there is also the need for bank customers not to eschew decorum in their daily dealing with their banks.
In an article published earlier where we discussed the responsibilities placed on the bank customer by the Central Bank of Nigeria CBN, we ex rayed what the Apex bank has listed out through the CBN Consumer Protection Council as the anticipated expectations from customers of financial institutions under its supervision. In this new article, we shall be explaining what habits a bank customer is expected to adhere to enjoy his relationship with his financial services provider.
Read bank notices and updates.
Your bank occasionally sends messages to your email and also displays messages on the walls and strategic locations around the banking halls. Those messages contain information about banking products and services as well as regulatory information that will help you have a clearer understanding of the latest happenings in the finance and banking industry. Endeavor reading such messages whenever you see them and it will help you to keep yourself updated about your bank’s products and services some of which may be of benefit to you. Your monthly bank statement and regulatory information are also sent to you via email, open them and keep yourself abreast with what is going on in your bank account and the banking industry.
Never issue a dud cheque.
It is important to ensure your account is funded before you issue a cheque. Never issue your cheque in anticipation of cash lodgment you are not sure of. It is better to delay or postdate your cheque to be sure that there is enough funding in your account to accommodate the payment than issue your cheque when you know you don’t have funds in your account. A dud or bounced cheque is a criminal offense that comes with legal implications apart from the reputational damage it may cause you or your business.
Update your details when it has changed.
One of your responsibilities as a bank customer is to update your record when it has changed; your marital status, address, work details, business details, phone numbers, and email address including your name must be updated once it is changed. The many advantages of KYC were succinctly rated earlier in the article ” Benefits of proper KYC documentation to a bank customer ”
Operate your bank account within the limit
As a responsible bank customer, it is important to keep your bank account balance within the limit set by the bank. A nonborrowing customer should not allow his or her bank account to go into debt and a borrowing customer should keep his or her bank account balance within the bank-approved limit. Drawing your bank account below the approved limit will attract more bank charges to your bank account apart from the damage it may cause to your credit history.
Sign up for online transactions.
Banking has gone digital away from brick-and-mortar analogous methods. It is no longer necessary for you to visit your bank branches for all your banking transactions. With your online banking, your bank services helplines, and your bank social media handles, you can do almost all you may need to visit the banking halls. Sign up for online banking and do your transfer to any bank customer in Nigeria and any other part of the world from your domiciliary account, pay utility bills including your cable subscriptions, buy airtime for yourself and others, and lots more. Also, contact your bank service helplines and on social media to resolve all issues timely.
Use other alternatives channels.
There are several other banking channels available to you as a bank customer: with your bank card, Point of Sales Terminals (PoS) are readily available at merchant locations when you go shopping, Mobile Banking Apps and, USSD Banking Services are available for you on the go, Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) is also available everywhere you go. All these channels function as much as if not better than being physically present in the banking halls for your banking business. As a bank customer, you may not need to visit your bank branch for years or even know your bank relationship officer once you are conversant with these alternative banking channels.
