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James Emejo in Abuja

First Bank of Nigeria Limited Tuesday launched a fully automated digital banking branch facility in Abuja. 

The Group Managing Director/Chief Executive, FirstBank, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, described the FirstBank Digital Experience Centre (DXC) as a “very momentous occasion for us as a bank”.

He said with almost 130 years of existence, the bank had weathered numerous challenges in the ever-evolving banking landscape.

Adeduntan said: “FirstBank had invested in modern technology infrastructure, pioneering digitisation and providing over 42 million customers with a convenient, seamless, safe, and secure banking experience.’’

The fully automated interactive digital branch, the first of its kind in the Nigerian banking industry and the third to be established by the bank represents the digitisation of operations with no tellers or human staff input.

The banking hall is equipped with digital screens, self-service terminals, card-issuance kiosks, ATMs, humanoid robots, video banking and Artificial Intelligence and serves as a one-stop digital banking platform that redefined customers’ banking experience.

The MD said: “I am enthused at the prospects it brings to our esteemed customers – both existing and prospective.”

He assured the customers that the bank would continue to lead the way in customer-led innovation and next-generation digital capabilities. 

According to him, “Our goal is to perpetually redefine the customer journey experience, improve efficiencies and create remarkable interactions with customers.”

Over the years, FirstBank had introduced several customer-led digital platforms and innovative products and services including the FirstMobile App, Lit App, FirstOnline – internet banking, FirstMonie, USSD (*894#), and Chat Banking, among others.

He said these digital channels had led to an impressive milestone, with over 22 million online subscribers, making the financial institution one of the fastest-growing bank-led digital penetrations in Nigeria.

He said: “In today’s era of volatility, there is no way but to reinvent. The only sustainable advantage you can have over others is agility, that’s it. Because nothing else is sustainable; everything else you create, somebody else will replicate.”

He told ������Ƶ: “If you observe, these centres are located at very high traffic locations. And they are open to the public, which means customers can come in, do their banking transactions, irrespective of the nature of the banking transactions, whether depositing cash, withdrawing cash, whether they want to transfer money.

“If you misplaced your card and you want to print a new card, you are welcome. So it’s open 24/7.

“The wholesome customer experience has subsequently facilitated the DXC’s expansion with a second branch recently launched in the University of Ibadan in August 2023 and today, the digitisation ‘train’ has arrived in the nation’s capital.

“I congratulate the Abuja Wuse community for being the worthy host to the first digitised branch in Nigeria’s political and administrative centre and I am enthused at the prospects it brings to our esteemed customers – both existing and prospective.”