AS Bank Verification Number (BVN) deadline draws near, customers have laid complains about having more than one BVN number.
This was made known to Weekend Observer, that aside the fact that many customers who are unaware of the biometrics registration, complication of having one or more BVN, has begun to discourage them.
The BVN launched by the former CBN governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido just before he was suspended from office last year is targeted at creating a stronger ‘know your customer’ (KYC) for banks, strengthen the various security platforms and also facilitate increase lending to customers.
However, as the deadline approaches, customers are having a hard time completing the process. Narrating her ordeal, a young lady who banks with one of the top tier banks, Adesuwa-Ade said she had gone into the bank to activate her internet banking but was told that she had to get her BVN.
According to her, she had to registered her Biometrics at another branch of the same bank earlier in the year and already has her BVN.
“The customer service lady kept insisting that I had not done it and when I gave her my BVN number to check on the system, she said the registration I did earlier did not upload and I had to get another one to pick up the BVN, but I have not had the chance to go and pick it up, she explained.
As one bank official in one of the big banks explained, “We still have to take the biometrics so that the data can be synchronized and we are sure that it is the same person who is running both accounts.
“The issue of registering with more than one bank where you have accounts have been taken up and was discussed and there are certain solutions that are being worked on,” he assured.
“It is quite upsetting because I got the number after registering for the second time and now I am being told I have to do it again or do a letter to that effect and all this is happening in the same bank. What if I had to use another bank?” she queried.
Another customer, Omolara Michael, who has accounts with three of the big banks in the country, explained that having done her BVN in one of the banks, she was told to come back to pick up her BVN if she does not get the number in a message after one week.
“When I went back, I was told that I was not registered and had to do it all over again, and even when I had to use another bank I still had to do the registration again there and I was also told to come back.
