Depositors Lament Over Poor Service Delivery In Heritage Bank

OpenLife Nigeria reports that on account of recent alleged scandals rocking Heritage Bank, one of Nigeria’s commercial banks, to the effect that shareholders are apprehensive over customers’ inability to access their deposits, the bank, on Friday, June 16, made clarification through a press statement.

In the statement, the bank explained that the reports in the public space are untrue.

They noted that The “articles” published in the media space, detailing the monumental scandal rocking the bank in which case staff members have been sacked and customers are unable to access their deposits were published by using “unrelated facts and conjecture to create a fictitious narrative.”

The bank statement, made available on its Facebook wall titled “Press Statement – Heritage Bank Plc,” and seen by OpenLife reads in full:

It has come to our attention that articles have been published by certain media platforms, making allegations of diversion of funds. No funds were diverted by any member of staff. These allegations are wrong and defamatory. These articles have used unrelated facts and conjecture to create a fictitious narrative. Recently, Heritage Bank began implementation of its long-term sustainability plans premised on restructuring the bank, ensuring cost efficiency, management of its assets and resources towards restoring the financial institution. The reduction in the workforce, who were duly compensated in line with the bank’s policy, was necessary to improve our pace on the path of growth, in line with our turnaround targets, to be able to continue providing outstanding financial services to our customers. We remain focused and committed to collectively drive growth and deliver exceptional service to all. We will continue to work together to build a long-term sustainable future for our customers, employees and all our stakeholders. Signed: Executive Management

In response, some of the bank depositors and non-depositors, came out in numbers, through the same Facebook channel, to lament and narrate their sad experiences with the bank .

Some of which are reproduced below:

A social media commentator identified as Amanda Chisom said “But you never have money to pay customers? What sort of bank stays for hours without electricity in a banking hall. The one in Onitsha here, that’s how they behave always waiting for NEPA to bring light. Hardly see money in this bank.”

Donsolo Malizu said “Yesterday, I was turned back in their two branches with reason that they have not opened yet… Heritage Bank.”

Prince Emma Emeka Ezeka disclosed that “NGN 171.84 this is my current account balance in your bank. I opened an account with HB because is very close to my place of business. From ending of last year, I was unable to transfer more than 100k at once but not just only that. Since two months now, my app refuses to open.”

Olanrewaju Luqman Adewumi Balogun

I can’t access my account on my phone since last month. I went to one of their branches here in Ibadan to get another debit card. They told me their machine in not working that I should visit another branch. I got to the other branch only to meet them without network. Which kind wahala be this?

Ada Ibitham

I can’t use online banking. App Hbpaddie isn’t working. I starved last weekend cos I was unable to use my debit card from Friday to Monday, USSD code isn’t working. I will carry out a transaction but I don’t get debit alerts the way I used to before. For every 3-4 transactions, I get just 1 debit alert and it doesn’t come immediately. Sometimes, I don’t get credit alerts. For me to check my account balance, I have to transfer money from my account from another bank to my Heritage Bank since the aforementioned isn’t working. Sometimes, I don’t even see it at all. This is very annoying. I am thinking of even closing the account with all of this complaints.

Ifunanya Gift

I’ve started transferring my money out from the bank…you guys are messed up this period!

Grace Ugorji

I started to bank with heritage bank. And since then I have not had any issue until January this year 2023. Each time I withdraw any money it will read decline and yet money will be withdrawn from my account. I went to the bank and reported the issue and I was told that the money will be refunded. But until date and I even went to the bank and I was told that their server got burnt and that they are still working on it for the past two weeks that’s what they keep saying at the Ilorin, Kwara State branch, please you people should do something about Ilorin branch oooooo.

Stephen Chukwuebuka Emenike ·

Continuous sacking of your staff won’t improve you as a bank. U guys should look for partners or more especially operate as a micro finance bank. All these fintech companies are even more stable than u guys

Senior Spirit

U people have refused to give me non indebtedness form… after being debited from heritage Bank..is unfair

Ajibade Olalekan

My client was debited the sum of (101500) one hundred and one thousand five hundred Naira only POS. Date 15/05/2033. And the money has not been revised yet.

Oluwabusolami Odus

Pls what is happening! I can’t use online banking app hbpaddie isn’t working, ATM card isn’t dispensing ussd code isn’t working! Pls wat is going on ?

Prince Olajide Micheal Adeyemi

Heritage bank is not a bank to be used

Basheer Aliyu

I have been trying to log in the new HB padie app since last week but it keeps showing “unable to log in at this moment pls try again later”

Prince Aladesanmi Joseph

But someone can no access your mobile app since almost a month now. Your USSD is no go area. And you are doing as if you people are doing well. What is the purpose of using your Bank? There’s no any benefit for customers. Useless bank

Nweze Britney Nonye

You guys should give me my money before speaking this long grammar.

I can’t do any transactions online and I visited the bank yesterday morning to do a transaction which am yet to get till now.

Secondly, your bank mobile app lacks security. Other banks will ask for digits on your ATM or Token & send a code to your phone before you can access your app in a new phone but just put acct number & pin on Heritage app and the account pops up.

What kind of a bank is this?

Prince Jb

But I made some withdrawals and they went stressless successful. So I no understand why some people see every opportunity as a means of rubbishing others. As for Me (Joshua .C. Bassey) I have not experienced nor witnessed any hard time or toughness in making any transaction. Talking about Network problems; Even the best bank in Nigeria is going through same complain.

So, please make una take am easy. And You BANK, try too to carry your customers along as well as satisfy them as much as you can. Let there be a fair ground. I know You can be Better than some banks out there…

Ndulue Chinedu Princewill

So restructuring made you guys shutdown your app hbpardi?

Customers can’t do transfer, no sms alerts, ATM doesn’t pay and keeps declining and most times no cash over the counter? For over a month now? I have gotten another account and moving my funds small small. Keep restructuring. Be speaking big grammar until you guys loss your customers!!

Dora Ndukwu

The bank refused to give me atm card after several attempts without any headway, all they do is sending me credit alerts of consolidated interest of two naira every month end on the account that I abandoned for years now with one thousand, five hundred naira balance.

Jimmy Blings

I applied 4 an ATM card, hard 2 wait for like a month plus b4 I was called… I went thru same process three years ago, u guys should step up your game pls!!!

Sparkle Da Genuis

These people deducted N900 from my account for over a month now and still counting am yet to see my airtime or refund.

The day I’ll spark, I’ll do more than what these media articles are publishing.

I will so much rubbish the name of this bank all over the media that u guys will have to appease the gods.