MUST READ: CBN Introduces New Charges On Deposits And Withdrawals

Effective today, Wednesday, September 18, 2019, the Central Bank of Nigeria has said a new policy on cash deposits and withdrawals from individual bank accounts is now in place. In a circular issued to all banks on Tuesday, September 17th, titled: “Re: Implementation of the Cashless Policy,” CBN said cash deposits and withdrawals are to attract additional charges, it said the new charges on depositors apply to those in Lagos, Ogun, Kano, Abia, Anambra, Rivers States and the FCT immediately.

The statement further stated that the implementation of the policy would signal the imposition of charges on deposits in addition to already existing charges on withdrawals, and that the nationwide implementation of the cashless policy will begin by March 2020.

According to the circular, the charges, which take effect from Wednesday (today) will attract three percent processing fees for withdrawals and two percent processing fees for lodgments of amounts above N500, 000 for individual accounts.

For corporate accounts, the apex bank in the circular said that DMBs would charge five percent processing fees for withdrawals and three percent processing fee for lodgments of amounts above N3, 000, 000.

The statement, however, disclosed that the charge on deposits would apply in Lagos, Ogun, Kano, Abia, Anambra, and Rivers States as well as the Federal Capital Territory.

It added that the implementation of the cashless policy would take effect from March 31, 2020. To further promote the cashless policy and enhance the collection of applicable government revenues, the CBN also announced a review of the process for merchant settlement, adding that with effect from Tuesday, September 17, the CBN had given approval for banks to unbundle merchant settlement amounts and charge applicable taxes and duties on individual transactions as stipulated by regulations.

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A statement signed by the Director, Payments System Management Department, CBN, Sam Okojere, said a downward review of the Merchant Service Charge had been approved.

It said henceforth, the charges had been reduced from 0.75 per cent capped at N1, 200 to 0.50 per cent capped at N1, 000.

See copy of the official statement below: