E-Financial
NIBSS Partners PFS To Launch National Automated Cheque Clearing System
NIBSS collaborates with PFS to launch National Automated Cheque Cheque Clearing System
Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System [NIBSS] and Precise Financial Systems [PFS] have collaborated to unveil a new National Automated Clearing System [NACS], which allows all the Deposit Money Banks in the country to clear cheques within hours.
The banks have been test-running the infrastructure for 11 weeks ago and a total of N5 trillion worth of cheques from 10 million transactions has been processed through the new platform.
At the post go-live session in Lagos with representatives of the banks, Managing Director of NIBSS, Mr. Ade Shonubi, explained that the institution had been on the project for over 18 months. He added that the infrastructure would allow all the banks to achieve several payment and non-payment transactions.
NIBSS’ boss said that as at today there are four clearing sessions. According to him, the advantage of having multiple clearing sessions was that the net amount against each bank is smaller so that risks are managed.
“With the new system, a cheque can be cleared within six hours, four hour or at whatever duration we agree”, he said.
The Managing Director of PFS, the software firm behind NACS, Dr. Yele Okeremi at the session said the process of clearing cheques in all Nigerian banks has been simplified with the launch of NACS and that the successful completion of the project has the door for more Nigerian firms to take on more national challenges.
Okeremi commended the collaborative effort that exists between NIBSS and PFS, saying that the partnership has given birth to the new system that “allows bank customers to experience the benefits of shorter cheque clearing cycles, as it reduces operational cost of the banks because the clearing departments of the bank can work smarter and close earlier”.
Expatiating on the reasons for the innovation, he said NIBSS needed a future proof system that would help the institution to realize its vision of a faster and more efficient clearing system that would be less resource intensive and accommodate various new requirements and practices in the clearing system.
“NIBSS wanted a system that can be incorporated with the Bank Verification Number [BVN]. They also wanted a situation where they would have a session-less system that would always be online such that banks could transmit their transactions as soon as they happen rather than a batch system that opens up at specific times and closes after stipulated time frames”, he said.
Head, Domestic Payments and Collections, Union Bank, Mr. Kolawole Aminu, described the new platform as user-friendly.
He added that “over N5 trillion that has been processed on the new platform just within 11 weeks. We are talking of over 10 million in terms of the volume of cheques. That tells you how much we do with this mode of payment.”
Okeremi said, “As MD of NIBSS have explained, what we have given the country is an infrastructure. It is a switch. It can switch anything. I look forward to when that infrastructure can be used for other transactions. When a country talks about independent, sovereignty, these are some of the things that matter. How much of your services are internal to you? Are you breathing through the nose of other countries and you claim you are independent? These are some of the things that make one happy and we can say that Nigeria’s problems are being gradually solved. There is a big road ahead.”
He said that whenever Nigerian government request foreigners to “do what we could have done for ourselves, we export prosperity and import poverty,” saying that “there is a national and sovereign security issue.
“If you go to any developed country, they would not allow foreigners to have access to certain critical infrastructure in their country. So why do we keep exposing our country to such sovereign risks. I think the fact that NIBSS has led the way in this direction, I expect other organizations to follow suit”, he said.
He expatiated that the Nigerian economy would benefit immensely from the new solution because it is “conceived and developed by Nigerians thereby saving some capital flight for the country”.
For decades, financial institutions have struggled to communicate the depth and breadth of their services in a single, coherent message.
FCMB Group’s latest TVC, The Power Of The Group, masterfully accomplishes this by placing its subsidiaries at the heart of the narrative.
The ad opens with a heated basketball game with a lone basketballer then pans out to the full force of the 5-woman team, subtly introducing the idea of collaboration. As the story unfolds, viewers are taken on a journey across Taraba, Abuja and Lagos States, each symbolising a key aspect of FCMB’s ecosystem.
The imagery of the drummers playing on Mambila Plateau reinforces the brand’s message: success is not achieved in isolation—it’s built through strategic partnerships.
From banking to consumer finance, investment management to investment banking, the TVC seamlessly weaves in elements from all arms of the FCMB Group, making it clear that power lies in collaborative innovative efforts.
The tagline ‘The Power Of The Group’ encapsulates the campaign’s essence, reinforcing the importance of unity in financial empowerment.
The production process was an extensive undertaking, requiring 4 months of production and a team of over 1,000 industry professionals.
The investment, said to run into hundreds of millions, underscores the bank’s commitment to delivering not just a commercial but a landmark campaign that defines its brand for years to come.
As the industry takes note, FCMB Group’s approach could redefine how corporate Nigeria tells its story.
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reminded banks, payment service banks, and fintech companies of their obligations to comply with applicable sanctions regimes.
These sanctions include the United Nations Consolidated Sanctions List, the Nigerian Sanctions List in line with the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022, and guidelines on targeted financial sanctions related to terrorism and its financing.
This was contained in a letter dated April 17, 2025 and signed by Amonia Opusunju for the director of the Compliance Department.
The CBN directed all financial institutions to ensure strict adherence to sanctions lists maintained at both international and national levels.
According to the apex bank, financial institutions are expected to regularly update their systems to identify designated persons or entities and prevent the misuse of financial platforms to facilitate illegal transactions.
The letter read: “Financial Institutions are required to maintain a robust and dynamic sanctions compliance framework that enables them to Identify and respond promptly to updates or changes across all applicable sanctions lists; Prevent the use of their systems and platforms for transactions involving designated individuals or entities; Conduct real-time screening of customers, transactions, and beneficial owners; and File appropriate reports with the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and notify the CBN, where necessary.”
The CBN’s directive also covers real-time screening of customers, transactions, and beneficial owners.
Institutions are to report suspicious activities to the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and notify the apex bank where necessary, the apex bank warned.
According to the bank, non-compliance with the regulations could attract sanctions in form of enforcement actions or regulatory penalties.
It added that sanctions compliance frameworks must be periodically reviewed and aligned with prevailing laws and regulatory expectations.
The CBN advised all financial institutions to take note of the guidance and act accordingly.
“This letter serves as a regulatory reminder and all Financial Institutions are expected to ensure continued compliance with applicable laws and CBN directives,” the apex bank stated.
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) says preliminary investigations revealed that Crypto Bridge Exchange, aka CBEX, engaged in promotional activities to create a ‘false perception of legitimacy’ to entice ‘unsuspecting’ Nigerians.
About N1.3trillion was reportedly wiped out from the investors’ account after the platform, which boasted of giving investors 100 per cent Return On Investment in 30 days crashed on Monday.
The SEC stated that CBEX was not granted registration by the commission at any time to operate as a Digital Assets Exchange.
In a circular dated April 17, 2025, the commission stated that its attention was drawn to recent media reports/publications on the activities of CBEX (Crypto Bridge Exchange).
According to the SEC, “The commission hereby clarifies that neither CBEX nor its affiliates were granted registration by the commission at any time to operate as a Digital Assets Exchange, solicit investments from the public or perform any other function within the Nigerian capital market.”
The agency said, “Preliminary investigations carried out by the commission have revealed that CBEX engaged in promotional activities to create a false perception of legitimacy, in order to entice unsuspecting members of the public into investing monies, with the promise of implausibly high guaranteed returns within a short timeframe.”
The SEC emphasised that pursuant to the provisions of Section 196 of the Investments and Securities Act 2025, the commission would collaborate with relevant law enforcement agencies to take appropriate enforcement action against the CBEX, its affiliates and promoters.
“The commission uses this medium to remind the public to REFRAIN from investing in or dealing with any entity offering unrealistic returns or employing similar recruitment-based investment models.”
Dr. Emomotimi Agama, director general, SEC, had recently said the commission is launching a more forceful and coordinated enforcement regime against unregistered and illegal “phony” investment schemes, otherwise known as ponzi schemes.
Agama said with the newly enacted Investments and Securities Act, 2025 (ISA 2025), the Commission now has enhanced powers to prosecute Ponzi schemes and their promoters.
He said investigations were ongoing on CBEX, adding that promoters of the failed scheme will not go scot-free.
Agama said the new law has given the commission more powers and blocked loopholes in emerging areas of virtual and digital assets.
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