FirstBank commissions 24-hour digital centre in UniAbuja

FirstBank Plc has commissioned a Digital Experience Centre at Yakubu Gowon University (formerly University of Abuja), Gwagwalada, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), targeting more than 40,000 students and members of staff with round-the-clock banking services.

The centre, commissioned on Tuesday, is designed to provide seamless banking services to the university community without the need to visit conventional banking halls or leave the campus.

FirstBank Chief Executive Officer, Olusegun Alebiosu, said the initiative was part of the bank's strategy to bring future banking services closer to customers through digital technology.

He said the centre would enable customers to perform virtually all transactions available in a traditional banking hall, including cash withdrawals and deposits, cheque payments, account balance enquiries, statement requests, ATM card replacement, phone number and email updates and funds transfers.

Alebiosu said the facility would operate 24 hours daily, throughout the year, with bank personnel available to attend to customers' complaints and resolve service-related challenges.

"Our primary target is to get customers onto our platform digitally and allow them to transact seamlessly, 24/7.

"What we have here represents everything you want to do in a banking hall. Whether you need cash, have lost your ATM card, want a new one, check your account balance or statement, update your email or phone number, or make transfers, everything is available here," he said.

The FirstBank chief executive said the bank was particularly interested in attracting young people, especially members of Generation Z, who were increasingly embracing digital platforms for their daily activities.

He predicted that conventional banking branches might become less prominent in the next 20 years as younger generations increasingly relied on digital channels for financial transactions.

Alebiosu said similar digital experience centres had been established in parts of Abuja, Bayero University, Kano, and the University of Benin, adding that the initiative was being expanded across campuses in Nigeria and beyond.

He cited the centre at Area 10, Gwarinpa, Abuja, as an example of the bank's experience with the model, claiming that it had recorded no fraud incidents.

On concerns about cybercrime and the security of digital transactions, Alebiosu said the bank had deployed multiple layers of security, including facial recognition, fingerprint biometrics and one-time passwords (OTPs).

He explained that sensitive transactions, such as changes to customers' phone numbers, email addresses and passwords, would require biometric verification and authentication through the phone number registered with the bank.

According to him, the security measures are designed to prevent unauthorised access and protect customers' accounts, while urging users to safeguard their passwords and personal banking information.

The Vice-Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University, Prof. Hakeem Fawehinmi, described the facility as a significant development that would improve banking services and enhance the overall campus experience for students and staff.

Fawehinmi said the university community had previously lacked adequate commercial banking services on campus, adding that the new facility would bring banking services of international standards to the institution.

He said more than 40,000 students and members of staff were expected to benefit from the centre, noting that the university's young population was particularly suited to digital banking.

"This is the sort of facility that has been brought to our doorstep. I believe it will add a lot of value to the lives of students on campus," he said.

The vice-chancellor said the centre would also make it easier for students to receive money from their parents and relatives, transfer funds and undertake other routine financial transactions without leaving the university.

He added that the university and the bank had put security arrangements in place, including 24-hour surveillance, to prevent vandalism and protect the facility.

Fawehinmi said the initiative would further strengthen the cordial relationship between the university and FirstBank.