Business
Dormant Accounts: CBN Slams N2m Fine On Erring Banks

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has slammed a minimum fine of N2 million as penalty on banks that disobey its new guidelines on the management of dormant accounts, unclaimed balances and other financial assets in financial institutions in the country.
CBN defines a dormant account as a bank account that has remained inactive for a period of at least one year. An account is classified inactive if there has been no customer or depositor-initiated transaction for a period of six months after the last customer or depositor initiated transaction.
In the guidelines announced in a circular signed by the Director, Financial Policy and Regulation Department, CBN, Mr. Chibuzo Efobi, the apex bank added that a further daily penalty of N200,000 will be applied until full compliance.
READ ALSO: CBN Warns Against Fake Recruitment Portal
The apex bank stated: “A contravention of any provision of the guidelines shall attract a penalty of not less than N2 million. Failure to comply with CBN’s directive in respect of any infraction shall attract a further penalty of N200,000 daily until the directive is complied with or as may be determined by CBN.”
According to CBN, the guidelines were rolled out in response to the request of banks and other stakeholders for the apex bank to further clarify the procedure for the management of dormant and inactive accounts by banks in Nigeria.
The guidelines: “The financial institution shall bear the costs of maintaining inactive and dormant accounts as well as contacting the customers; Render quarterly reports on dormant accounts in a prescribed format to Banking Supervision Department and Other Financial Institutions Supervision Department, CBN; Notify account owners in writing through the agreed medium such as email, text message, and letter immediately an account becomes inactive/dormant; Reactivate dormant accounts upon request by the account owner or his/her legitimate representatives; Continue to reflect dormant account balances as deposit liabilities and such balances, where applicable, shall continue to earn interest until they are transferred to CBN.”
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In its electronic fact sheet for 2021, the Nigeria Interbank Settlement System, NIBSS, stated that the number of bank accounts stood at 191.4 million as at December 2021, while the number of active bank accounts were 133.5 million owned by 122.3 million active bank customers.
This indicates that 57.9 million inactive accounts were recorded during the period, VANGUARD reports.
Business
JUST IN: CBN Removes Cash Deposit Limits, Raises Weekly Withdrawal To N500,000

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has removed cash deposit limits and also increased the weekly cash withdrawal limit from N100,000 to N500,000.
The CBN made this known in a circular to all banks and other financial institutions, signed by Dr Rita Sike, Director, Financial Policy and Regulation Department.
Sike said that the revisions formed part of ongoing efforts to moderate the rising cost of cash management and address security concerns.
According to her, it will also curb money laundering risks associated with heavy reliance on cash.
She said that the cash-related policies previously issued in response to evolving circumstances were aimed at reducing cash usage and promoting the adoption of electronic payment channels.
READ ALSO:CBN Directs Nigerian Banks To Withdraw Misleading Advertisement
“However, with time, the need to streamline and update these provisions to reflect present-day realities became necessary,” she said.
She said that with effect from Jan. 1, 2026, the cumulative deposit limit would be removed and the fee previously charged on excess deposits would no longer apply.
The director said that the cumulative weekly withdrawal limit across all channels has been reviewed to N500,000 for individuals and five million Naira for corporates.
READ ALSO:CBN Issues Directive Clarifying Holding Companies’ Minimum Capital
“Withdrawals above these thresholds will attract excess withdrawal charges as specified,” she said. “The special monthly authorisation that allowed individuals to withdraw five million Naira and corporates N10 million once a month has been abolished.”
She said that for Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), daily withdrawal remains capped at N100,000 per customer, with a maximum of N500,000 weekly.
She said that this formed part of the overall weekly withdrawal limit applicable to all channels, including point-of-sale (POS) transactions.
Sike said that excess withdrawals above the stipulated limits would attract three per cent for individuals and five per cent for corporate customers.
READ ALSO:Court Convicts Two National Assembly Staff Over CBN, FIRS Job Scam
According to her, this will be shared in the ratio of 40 per cent to the CBN and 60 per cent to the operating bank or financial institution.
She directed banks to load all currency denominations in ATMs, while the existing limit on over-the-counter encashment of third-party cheques remains pegged at N100,000.
Sike said that such withdrawals would be counted as part of the cumulative weekly limit.
The director said that banks were also required to render monthly returns to the relevant supervisory departments.
READ ALSO:CBN Sets POS Maximum Transactions In Fresh Guidelines
She listed the departments to include the Banking Supervision Department, Other Financial Institutions Supervision Department, and the Payments System Supervision Department.
Sike said that revenue-generating accounts of federal, state, and local governments were exempted from the new withdrawal rules.
She said that accounts of microfinance banks and primary mortgage banks held with commercial and non-interest banks are also exempted from the new rules.
She, however, said that the long-standing exemption previously enjoyed by embassies, diplomatic missions, and aid-donor agencies had been removed.
Business
Naira Records Depreciation Against US Dollar Across Official, Black Markets

The naira depreciated against the dollar at the official and parallel foreign exchange markets on Monday to begin the new month on a bearish note.
Central Bank of Nigeria’s data showed that the Naira weakened to N1,448.44 on Monday, down from N1,446.74 traded on Friday last week.
READ ALSO:Naira Records First Depreciation Against US Dollar Across Official, Black FX Markets
This means that the naira dropped by N1.7 against the dollar on Monday when compared to Friday.
Similarly, at the black market, the Naira declined by N5 to N1,475 on Monday from N1,470 at the close of work last week.
The development comes as Nigeria’s foreign reserves stood at $44.61 billion as of November 27th, 2025.
Business
NNPCL Revenue, Profit Soar To N5.08tn, N447bn In October

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has announced a significant revenue increase to N5.078 trillion for October 2025.
The state-owned firm disclosed this in its monthly financial report released on Saturday.
According to the financial report, from N5.078 revenue in October, the company posted a N447 profit after tax.
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The figure represents a significant 19.2 percent increase in revenue from N4.26 trillion and a 106 percent rise in PAT from N216 billion in September 2025.
The report stated that from January to September, NNPCL paid N11.150 trillion in statutory payments to the federation.
Four days ago, NNPCL posted a total of N45.1 trillion as total revenue for the 2024 financial year.
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