In addition to hundreds of branches across all Nigerian states, the bank has also made available more than 35,000 Firstmonie Agents in 99% of the 774 Local Government Areas in Nigeria. The Firstmonie Agents are available in both areas with available banks and the others. They help in making banking transactions easier for many people.
One can now easily send or receive money, pay bills and even buy Airtime without visiting a branch of the bank.
In the recently concluded Firstmonie Agent Banking national award ceremony which took place in Lagos, First Bank rewarded 37 leading mobile money agents that have promoted financial inclusion in the country. The sum of ₦250,000 was won at the State level by 31 Agents; ₦1,000,000.00 at the Regional level by 5 Agents with the grand prize being the sum of ₦2,500,000.00 at the National Level.
Speaking during the event, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, the bank's CEO said the Firstmonie agent network is a bespoke channel through which the Bank expresses its unalloyed commitment and passion to promote opportunities and access to financial services by every Nigerian, especially within the low-income segment.
He explained that with the initiative, the gap between the tech-savvy and the low literacy clients has been breached as Firstmonie agent network represents the convenient and comfortable alternative for customers, that are unacquainted with sophisticated digital channels.
In his remarks, Mr. Francis Shobo, the Deputy Managing Director of First Bank of Nigeria Limited noted that the agents are the most critical part of the banking ecosystem because they take deposits, make payments and open accounts, provide transfers and sell airtime at locations with little or no access to financial services.
Shobo highly praised the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele for the role the apex bank has played, stating that the CBN has made a lot of changes in regulation around agency banking, “they have allowed the programme to scale as much as it has scaled.”
In chat with newsmen after receiving the cash prize at the event, the N2.5 million grand prize winner at the national level from Abuja (North Central), Zayyanu Hassan Ishaq, expressed his amazement at his prize, one he noted he finds very encouraging and a miracle from God.
“I want to thank FirstBank for this gesture. It took me by surprise, because I never expected it from them. This is a miracle. “FirstBank is truly different. This will spur me to work harder and ensure more people have access to the top-class financial services offered by FirstBank” joy-filled Ishaq concluded.
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