Reps urge CBN to direct banks to reverse failed transactions immediately

The House of Representatives has urged the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to direct banks to work on their systems to mitigate failed transactions and immediately reverse failed transactions without the customer’s prompting.

The decision of the House followed the adoption of a motion moved at plenary on Tuesday by Emmanuel Ukpong–Udo.

Explaining his motion, Ukpong–Udo said according to the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc, over 135, 500,000 Nigerians use banks.

He said the CBN released a statement on June 8, 2020, revising timelines for reversals and resolution of refund complaints as follows; Failed “On-Us” ATM transactions (when customers use their cards on their bank’s ATMs) shall be instantly reversed from the current timeline of three days, where instant reversal fails due to any technical issue or system glitch, the timeline for manual reversal shall not exceed 24 hours”

The lawmaker noted that the CBN also resolved that refunds for failed “Not-on-US” ATM transactions, where customers use their cards on other banks’ ATMs shall not exceed four hours from the current 3-5 days.

Ukpong–Udo added that the CBN further resolved that resolution of disputed/failed POS or Web transactions shall be concluded within 72 hours from the current five days.

He noted that the CBN also resolved that all banks are directed to resolve the backlog of all ATM, POS, and Web customer refunds within two weeks starting June 8, 2020.

The lawmaker decried that Nigeria’s financial sector was facing serious concerns due to persistent complaints of failed customer transactions, with over 69 percent of complaints in July 2023 encompassing failed transactions.

Ukpong–Udo noted the rapid increase in the number of failed banks and the magnitude of the problem which has reached an unprecedented level.

He expressed worry that the high rate of failed bank transactions was causing a decrease in business investments and lending across the country.

The Green Chamber, therefore, urged the apex bank to direct banks to reverse customers’ funds within the stipulated periods whether or not the customers lodge complaints.

It also urged the CBN to direct banks to work on their systems to mitigate failed transactions and immediately reverse failed transactions without the customer’s prompting;

The House also mandated the Committees on Banking Regulations, Banking and other Ancillary Institutions, and Digital and Electronic Banking to liaise with the apex bank and Nigeria Interbank Settlement System, NIBSS, to look into the issues and provide solutions.