Ecobank It was jubilation and commendation for the management of Ecobank as its branch in Omu-Aran, Kwara, on Monday re-opened for skeletal services after its closure in May 2014, following a robbery attack.
Excited customers besieged the bank located on Aperan Way as early as 8.00 am for banking transactions and were attended to by the newly posted members of staff.
The bank management had earlier indicated its readiness to re-open the branch in a letter addressed to the Divisional Police Officer in Omu-Aran.
A copy of the letter signed by Bolade Okanlawon, Customer Service Manager and Victor Inyang, Area Manager, Kwara/Osun reads in parts:
“We write to formally inform you that we will be commencing banking operations in our Omu-Aran branch on Monday 23rd December 2019.
“This is coming after over five years of suspension of operation in the branch due to the last fatal robbery incident in 2014.
“We humbly request all security logistics be put in place to guarantee the safety of our operations and pledge our full cooperation in that regard”.
The bank and two others were attacked by armed bandits in 2014, resulting in the killing of three persons while an undisclosed amount of cash was carted away in the process.
Prior to the re-opening of the bank’s main branch in the town, the bank only maintained a cash centre inside the premises of Landmark University, specifically for students.
It had in November 2018 only activated its Automated Teller Machine services outside the branch premises for customers in preparation for full banking services which commenced on Monday.
However, First Bank on its part began banking operations in 2017, three years after the robbery attack, operating from 8 a.m to 2 p.m, following intense pressure from the people of the community.The community in its bid to woo the banks back to business few months after the incident bought two Hilux security vehicles for the police in order to enhance their patrol and surveillance operations.The management of Ecobank had commenced renovation of the bank’s building in a bid to join First bank around April but was forced to abandon the plan following another robbery attack in Offa.The residents, especially bank customers, in separate interviews described the re-opening as “heartwarming, unprecedented and a welcome development’’.“The re-opening of Ecobank is a big relief to us and we are very happy about it.“The workers are fully on ground, especially the cashier, I just posted some money successfully now, that’s […]
