First Inland Bank, Akure, Nigeria - infancy @ use of technology...
Friday, 13. June 2008, 13:35:56
Anyone who's been to, or from Nigeria, can reel off, the ease with which we live with chaotic extremes.
But, I find the most ridiculous our penchant not to upgrade, or actually live, to the standards that we so, cosmetically assume.
Case in question:- Back in Nigeria, I operated a basic bank account with what was then First Atlantic Bank, now First Inland Bank. Having not made any transactions on the account over the last 4 years, I thought I should enquire its status, pending an upcoming deposit.
Boom, I looked up their email addresses, both the HQ and the Akure branch that domicilles' my account, forwarding my query with expectations, that someone eitheway will perform a simple query, and hit me, with the reply button...
Its been nearly 2 months, and my email remains unreplied. As it turns, I had a good old classmate working right at the branch, who's offered to help me with my enquiry even if he was on holiday, at the time, I needed the information.
Today, I finally decided to ring up the bank and seek clarification - I hate the concept, dominant as it is, that you must have a qualified insider, before you can operate legitimate, and pretty straightfoward businesses, even if simple processes, once its Nigeria. It really burns my brain, but that's a digression.
Here is what ensued:-
My point:-, one would expect that with the mouch touted progress made in the Banking sector, there would be a tad more professionalism, at the table from bankers. One would expect a bit more warmth, a bit more formality. One would expect, that phone calls are answered, in a manner that shows a predisposition, that its's a business line...
I am perhaps beclouded by the corrutption of western influence, or expectations, but something about the phone conversation didn't just feel business-like.
And that is not to mention, the frustration of listing email addresses that never replies to its INBOX....Its just antithetical to the relief, or shall we say, possibilities, the modern technologies - email + telecoms - promises an easy client
like me.
I will be updating this post, when and after I run the transaction on my account in the coming days... Hopefully, as she said, my account still dey kampe.
But, I find the most ridiculous our penchant not to upgrade, or actually live, to the standards that we so, cosmetically assume.
Case in question:- Back in Nigeria, I operated a basic bank account with what was then First Atlantic Bank, now First Inland Bank. Having not made any transactions on the account over the last 4 years, I thought I should enquire its status, pending an upcoming deposit.
Boom, I looked up their email addresses, both the HQ and the Akure branch that domicilles' my account, forwarding my query with expectations, that someone eitheway will perform a simple query, and hit me, with the reply button...
Its been nearly 2 months, and my email remains unreplied. As it turns, I had a good old classmate working right at the branch, who's offered to help me with my enquiry even if he was on holiday, at the time, I needed the information.
Today, I finally decided to ring up the bank and seek clarification - I hate the concept, dominant as it is, that you must have a qualified insider, before you can operate legitimate, and pretty straightfoward businesses, even if simple processes, once its Nigeria. It really burns my brain, but that's a digression.
Here is what ensued:-
First Inland staff: Hello
Me: Hello, Is that First Inland Bank
staff: Yes, First Inland Bank ( sounding so unwelcoming, fuzzy and possibly tired...)
Me: I have a problem... need to clarify a few things regarding my account.
staff: what ?
Then I explained.
Guess what, she simply requested for my name, and I can almost bet, without checking up, declared that I can still run the account.
I wanted to press on, at least find out, how in Gods earth, my account could still be active after 4 years, but the feel of her response, on the phone was so casual, I needed not 'bother' her the more.
She sounded as though, I was a caller, disturbing her, while she's trying to grab some sleep on a warm saturday afternoon So I ended the call sharp sharp.
My point:-, one would expect that with the mouch touted progress made in the Banking sector, there would be a tad more professionalism, at the table from bankers. One would expect a bit more warmth, a bit more formality. One would expect, that phone calls are answered, in a manner that shows a predisposition, that its's a business line...
I am perhaps beclouded by the corrutption of western influence, or expectations, but something about the phone conversation didn't just feel business-like.
And that is not to mention, the frustration of listing email addresses that never replies to its INBOX....Its just antithetical to the relief, or shall we say, possibilities, the modern technologies - email + telecoms - promises an easy client
like me. I will be updating this post, when and after I run the transaction on my account in the coming days... Hopefully, as she said, my account still dey kampe.
