Heritage Bank has continued to pay customers of the defunct Societe Generale Bank of Nigeria (SGBN) at the various designated centres across the country.

It will be recalled that Heritage Banking Company, which was licensed recently by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to operate under a regional banking status, had announced the commencement of a one-month account validation exercise for customers of the old SGBN.

The exercise, which began on Tuesday, January 29, 2013, is to set the tone for its commencement of operations. A statement from the bank had earlier stated that the exercise was in line with the terms of the operational licence granted it by the apex bank.

Visit by our correspondent to some of the centres showed that the turnout was poor. However, there was immediate issuance of payment cheques to customers whose accounts were successfully validated.

The exercise is in two parts namely: verification of accounts and instant issuance of payment cheques for those who prefer to collect the balances in their accounts. Owners of successfully validated accounts also have the option of retaining such with the new Heritage Bank which is set to begin operations before the first quarter of the year ends.

Some of the officials who spoke with the Nigerian Tribune confirmed that the management of the new Heritage Bank had put everything in place to ensure that all SGBN customers who turned up for the month-long exercise went back satisfied.

 According to the Head, Corporate Affairs, Heritage Bank, Josephine Aligwekwe, ”the modalities for account validation are simple. Savings account holders are expected to come with means of identification such as driver’s licence, passport or national identity card, as well as their cash withdrawal forms and deposit slips. For Current and Corporate accounts, account holders are expected to present their chequebooks or cheque stumps.

“The process is simple, hassle-free and technology-driven to ensure that customers that turn up do not have to wait endlessly. The bank officials just call up the customer’s number from the server base at the head office. Once this appears, the customer’s picture is taken and stored and the form is passed on to the Validation officer through the control officer, for the account to be verified, including the balance in such account. Once this is done, the customer is referred to the cashiers who instantly write cheques for those that want their account balance paid,” she explained.

Customers interviewed in some of the centres expressed happiness at finally having the opportunity to reclaim their trapped monies after many years.