CBN sanctions Fidelity Bank, Zenith Bank, 7 others N1.35bn failure to feed ATMs with cash

No fewer than nine Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) were each sanctioned N150million monetary fines by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for failure to upload Naira notes on their respective Automated Teller Machines(ATMs) across the country.

This, according to the apex bank, was a clear message of zero tolerance for cash flow disruptions, hence, was fined N150 million for non-compliance,

The affected banks include: Fidelity Bank Plc, First Bank Plc, Keystone Bank Plc, Union Bank Plc, Globus Bank Plc, Providus Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, United Bank for Africa Plc, and Sterling Bank Plc.

This development was in line with the CBN’s cash distribution guidelines, following spot checks on their branches.

The enforcement action follows repeated warnings from the CBN to financial institutions to guarantee seamless cash availability, particularly during periods of high demand.

Communication with the banks revealed that the fines would be debited directly from their accounts with the apex bank.

The Acting Director of Corporate Communications at the CBN, Mrs. Hakama Sidi Ali confirmed the development in a statement, noting that, “Ensuring seamless cash flow is paramount to maintaining public trust and economic stability.“

The CBN will not hesitate to impose further sanctions on any institution found violating its cash circulation guidelines, she added.

The CBN’s investigations and monitoring will continue to scrutinise cash hoarding and rationing, both at bank branches and by Point-of-Sale (POS) operators. The Central Bank is working with security agencies to crack down on illegal cash sales and operational violations, including enforcing POS operators’ daily cumulative withdrawal limit of N1.2 million.

Governor, CBN,  Olayemi Cardoso, in his address at the Annual Bankers’ Dinner of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) in November 2024, warned banks to strictly adhere to cash distribution policies or face severe penalties. He underscored the CBN’s commitment to maintaining a robust cash buffer to meet Nigerians’ needs. “Our focus remains on fostering trust, ensuring stability, and guaranteeing seamless cash circulation across the financial system,” Cardoso said.The CBN urged all financial institutions to comply with its guidelines, warning that further violations would attract swift and decisive sanctions.