Following the recent fusion of Access and Diamond Banks, the acquired customers of the former Diamond Bank have been complaining about poor services they receive from their ‘new’ financial institution.
News broke late last year that Access bank had acquired Diamond bank to the surprise of customers of both banks, financial experts and Nigerians at large.
Press statements from both financial institutions were released after the announcement was made public as they said it was an unprecedented move to aid effective banking process, integrate customers from both banks and ultimately redefine the banking narrative in Nigeria.
However, some customers mostly from the acquired Diamond bank have claimed that the transition has not been totally smooth as it has left them with more challenges than expected.
In separate interactions with customers of the new-born “Access Bank”, in Lagos, DAILY POST gathered that the customers have not been enjoying services of the bank as expected.
Adesola Busayo, a customer of the old Diamond Bank, explained that since Access Bank acquired his beloved bank, he has been having issues with the new banking arrangement, saying his initial fear has been brought to life after the announcement of the acquisition was made last year.
“I didn’t have an Access bank account and now when I receive alerts or information from Diamond which has been bought, it appears as Access bank which is totally confusing,” he added.
Similarly, Osasu Mary also complained about having issues with her Diamond bank mobile app, stating that she has been unable to make use of the banking application and that she doesn’t even know how to resolve her frustrations.
Mrs. Bolajoko Kolawole, another Diamond bank customer told DAILY POST, that it is the first time she would be experiencing challenges from the bank since she opened the account during her National Youth Corps Service (NYSC) year.
She said: “Whenever I am running any transaction, the response I receive is to indicate Access or Diamond and Diamond bank still exists because the bank hasn’t sent their customers any message till this moment that they are no more functioning.”
Kolawole further explained that she has not received her March salary which was posted through Access bank to her Diamond account while other staff members in her company using other banks have already received theirs.
She said that when she was at an Access bank branch to complain, the bank was filled with Diamond bank customers who came to lodge complaints as well, as some were not able to use their automated teller machine (ATM) cards even as they still have sufficient funds in their accounts.
“Teller, cheque were piled up together for processing later in the day at Diamond Bank, Isolo due to the challenges faced by customer care center of Access Bank Ejigbo,” she concluded.
