Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief
The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has increased Maximum Deposit Insurance coverage of Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) from N500,000 to N5 million.
The NDIC Managing Director of the NDIC, Mr. Bello Hassan, announced this at a press conference in Abuja this morning.
Deposit Insurance coverage refers to the amount of customers deposits in banks that will be immediately paid to such depositors, in case of the failure of a bank.
A bank depositor who has more than N5 million can still receive their deposits in excess of the insured amount through Liquidation Dividend, after the sale of a failed banks assets or recovered loans from debtors.
According to Mr. Hassan, Primary Mortgage Banks coverage was raised from N500, 000 to N5 million, Payment Service Banks had theirs increased from N500, 000 to N5 million, while the coverage of Subscribers of Mobile Money Operators coverage was also raised from N500, 000 to N5 million.
In addition, Microfinance Banks Maximum Deposit Insurance coverage was increased from N200, 000 to N2 million.
The MD said the NDIC has a war chess of Deposit Fund in excess of N2 trillion with which to implement the policy, meant to boost depositors confidence and stability of the nations banking system.
He said that the decision to raise the coverage levels was taken by the Interim Management Committee of the NDIC during its 18th meeting held last week, following a 2023 study of the organisation, to determine the adequacy of the Maximum Deposit Insurance Coverage in the country.
Mr. Hassans words, NDICs Interim Management Committee (IMC), during its 18th meeting held on April 24th and 25th, approved an increase in the maximum deposit insurance coverage levels for all licensed deposit-taking financial institutions with immediate effect. The adjustments are as follows: Deposit Money Banks (DMBs): The increase of the maximum deposit insurance coverage from N500,000 to N5,000,000, would provide full coverage of 98.98% of the total depositors compared with the current cover of 89.20%.
In terms of the value of deposit covered, the revised coverage would increase the value of deposits covered by deposit insurance to 25.37% compared with the current cover of 6.31% of total value of deposits.
Microfinance Banks (MFBs): The increase of the maximum deposit insurance coverage from N200,000 to N2,000,000, would provide full coverage of 99.27% of the total depositors compared with the current level of 98.76% and would increase the value of deposits covered by deposit insurance to 34.43% compared with 14.38% of total value of deposit, currently covered.
Primary Mortgage Banks (PMBs): The increase of the maximum deposit insurance coverage from N500,000 to N2,000,000 would provide full coverage of 99.34% of the total depositors compared with the current 97.98% and would increase the value of deposits covered by deposit insurance to 21.04% compared with 10.77% of total value of deposit, currently covered.
READ ALSO: NDIC inaugurates anti-corruption and transparency unitPayment Service Banks (PSBs): The increase of the maximum deposit insurance coverage from N500,000 to N2,000,000 would provide full coverage of 99.99% of the total number of depositors and would increase the value of deposits covered by deposit insurance to 43.10% of the total value deposits from the current cover of 40.60%.
Subscribers of Mobile Money Operators: The increase of the maximum Pass-through deposit insurance coverage from N500,000 to N5,000,000 per subscriber per MMO as the applicable coverage level for depositors of DMBs.
The MD said the maximum deposit insurance coverage was determined through periodic research based studies, to ensure its adequacy and credibility and that various factors considered in setting the coverage level were: deposit distribution, impact of inflation, per capita GDP, exchange rate and other statistical models, among others.
Mr. Hassan said that his organization was committed to enhancing depositors protection, public confidence, financial inclusion, and stability of the financial system.
He however, warned members of the public to avoid unlicensed deposit-taking institutions, as such organisations had no insurance and that such deposit could be in danger.
The MD advised members of the public to verify deposit-taking organisations from the websites of the NDIC and Central Bank of Nigeria, to avoid becoming victims of fraudsters.
Historical perspective
The maximum deposit insurance coverage for depositors of DMBs was set at N50,000 at the inception of the Corporation in 1989 through a research survey.
The amount was set in such a way that up to 85% of the total depositors in the nations insured banks would be 100% covered. Subsequently, 96% of all depositors were protected when 2 the coverage ceiling was raised from N5
