By Moses Nosike

FirstBank has launched its fifth Digital Xxperience centre at Admiralty Way in Lekki, Lagos to offer innovation in its operation where customers can conduct seamless, efficient transaction independently using advanced digital banking facility. It also saves time for customers.

At the launch, the MD/CEO, First Bank of Nigeria, Olusegun Alebiosu, said, “FirstBank continues to retain its position as a leader in digital banking solutions, ensuring that our customers have access to next-generation services tailored to their needs. This expansion of our Digital Xperience Centre network is central to our vision of being Africa’s bank of first choice”.

According to him, “the new centre has an AI-powered humanoid robot which interacts with customers in real-time, offering guidance and addressing inquiries”.

Alebiosu also said that customers can engage remotely with relationship managers and customer service representatives through video technology, among many other interesting features.

He said, “The generation to come is digital, they only know phones and transfers. When we were younger, we used to go to the bank every day. Today, not many people carry cash to the bank; POS, USSD, Online transfer are now the trending means of transactions.

“Ask artisans and SME vendors, they all have POS. The world has moved, so digital experience is quite important for all of us to see as the way forward for us as an institution. So that in 10 years time, the old man asking to see his bank manager will be asking his bank manager to reset his password or asking for his limits to be extended.”

Further describing the newly launched Digital Xperience Centre, Alebiosu said that the state-of-the-art facility is yet another significant milestone for First Bank, designed to provide an interactive banking experience to improve transaction efficiency among customers.

In addition, Group Head of Branch Operations and Services for Lagos and West, Abimbola Kunle-Ajayi, commended the centre’s efficiency, highlighting significant improvements in transaction turnaround time.

She said, “A transfer that usually takes 15-20 minutes in a traditional branch can now be completed in less than two minutes. Similarly, card vending and ATM withdrawals are finalized in just a few minutes, making banking highly convenient for customers”.

Furthermore, ED, Retail Banking South Directorate, Oluseyi Popoola Oyefeso said, “the centre was created to meet the needs of the customers, while charging the staff of First Bank to ensure the facility keeps running 24/7.

“We recognize that in this age and time, a lot of people just want to do their businesses and go their way without having to spend time in the banking halls. This is why we have provided this facility here to meet that need, and we hope that you take advantage of this.

“To my colleagues we must make sure everything in this building is working 24/7. I also assure customers that I will be checking on your behalf to ensure that the facility keeps running smoothly.”