More than two years after the closure of Heritage Bank, affected depositors have appealed to the Federal Government, the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation to ensure the immediate payment of their outstanding funds.
The depositors said prolonged delays in accessing their money have caused serious financial difficulties for thousands of Nigerians.
The CBN revoked Heritage Bank Plc’s banking licence and shut down the institution on June 3, 2024, citing its failure to improve its financial condition and the lack of a realistic path to recovery.
Following the licence revocation, the apex bank appointed the NDIC as the liquidator responsible for managing the bank’s assets and reimbursing depositors.
However, members of the Concerned Heritage Bank Depositors Forum said many affected customers are still waiting to recover their funds.
In a statement titled, “Our Money, Our Right: Pay Heritage Bank Depositors Their Full Funds Now,” the group said depositors have been unable to access their savings for months.
According to the forum, the affected funds represent money accumulated through years of employment, personal sacrifices and financial planning.
The depositors said the situation has gone beyond a banking matter, as families are now dealing with the consequences of being unable to access their money.
They identified school fees, medical bills, business capital and retirement expenses as some of the major financial commitments affected by the delays.
The group said parents are struggling to pay school fees, patients are finding it difficult to settle medical expenses, business owners have their working capital trapped, while pensioners are depending on inaccessible savings.
Describing the situation as an issue of “trust, dignity and economic justice,” the forum urged the media, civil society groups and other stakeholders to support its campaign for full payment.
The depositors warned that further delays would worsen the hardship faced by those affected.
The group said every trapped account represents a Nigerian family dealing with real financial difficulties, stressing that institutions responsible for resolving the matter must act responsibly.
The forum concluded with its message: “We saved responsibly. They must pay responsibly.”
