FirstBank suspends staff travels over coronavirus, begins virtual meetings

FirstBank First Bank of Nigeria Limited

First Bank of Nigeria Limited has announced proactive measures it has taken to control the spread of the Covid-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.

The bank’s Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Folake Ani-Mumuney, announced the measures taken in a statement on Friday.

She sad the bank has provided and deployed temperature measuring tools, hand sanitisers, face masks and is adopting social distancing including utilising virtual meetings.

“We have also cancelled owned and partnered planned events in the interim; suspended staff travels and have put measures in place to identify and communicate to staff who are arriving from affected countries to self-quarantine following the established protocols by the World Health Organisation and the government,” Mrs Ani-Mumuney said.

“In addition, we have been amplifying all necessary official information from relevant health bodies and partners such as encouraging everyone to adhere to good hygiene practices which comprise regular cleaning of all surface areas – for example, tables, door handles – with disinfectants, consistent washing of hands as well as avoiding close contact with people and staying away from crowded environment.”

Encouraging the use of cashless transactions, Ani-Mumuney said: “We implore all our customers to embrace cashless transactions across our self-service platforms like *894# USSD banking services, FirstMobile, WhatsApp Banking, First Online for their needs like funds transfers, various bill payments, credit and internet data recharge and much more. In need of quick loans, these self-service platforms are also designed to meet their immediate needs through our FirstAdvance service.”

She noted that the bank was committed to protecting the health and safety of all its staff, customers and host communities from the virus.