The Central Bank of Nigeria has extended the suspension of cash deposit processing fees until 31 March 2025, from the previous 30 September 2024, deadline.
The CBN disclosed this in a letter to banks and other financial institutions in the country signed by its Director of Banking Supervision, Adetona Adedeji, on Friday in Abuja.
It also directed the suspension of cash deposits exceeding N500,000 for individuals and N3 million for corporate accounts.
CBN had in May, announced the suspension of cash deposit processing fees till 30 September.
The extension was to ensure that depositors would not incur additional costs when making substantial cash deposits.
Prior to this directive, the processing fee for individual accounts was two per cent of the amount, while that of corporate accounts was three per cent of the amount.
the Central Bank of Nigeria hereby extends the suspension of processing charges on cash deposits above N500,000 for individuals and N3,000,000 for corporates. The previous suspension, set to expire on 30 September 2024, has now been extended until 31 March 2025”.
“This suspension pertains to the two per cent and three per cent fees outlined in the ‘Guide to Charges by banks, other financial institutions and non-bank financial institutions,’ issued on 20 December 2019”.
The apex bank stated that all financial institutions under its regulation were required to continue accepting cash deposits from the public without any charges during the specified period.
In 2019, the CBN announced plans to start charging bank customers for cash deposits and withdrawals beginning 19 September 2019.
In a publicly released circular, the apex bank explained that the new transaction fees policy was aimed at reducing the amount of cash in circulation and enhancing the collection of government revenues.
The apex bank stated that the charges were initially applicable only to bank customers in Lagos, Ogun, Kano, Abia, Anambra, Rivers, and the Federal Capital Territory.
It indicated that by 31 March 2020, the implementation of the cashless policy would be expanded nationwide.
In December 2023, the CBN issued a directive to banks, other financial institutions, and non-bank financial institutions, suspending the previously imposed processing charges on large cash deposits.
