System migration won’t affect banking services – FirstBank

FirstBank has reassured its customers that the upcoming transition to a new cloud-based procurement and financial platform, scheduled for Saturday, October 26, will not affect their banking services.

While the lender, which serves over 42 million customers, previously acknowledged that the migration may result in temporary service disruptions, these disruptions will specifically impact vendors, not customers.

The bank clarified in a statement on Thursday to The PUNCH, saying, “This transition relates to the bank’s platform with suppliers only. It does not affect its banking systems, customer transactions, channels, etc.”

The lender explained the transition will be from its current I-Supplier platform, an automated platform that connects the bank to suppliers to a new cloud-based supplier platform, a platform for managing the bank’s suppliers.

The bank said that supplier platform update is part of FirstBank’s continuous investments in improving operational efficiencies and service experience.

The migration will start from Saturday, October 26, 2024, to Sunday, November 3, 2024, while the new cloud-based supplier platform will be live on Monday, November 4, 2024, and normal activities will resume.

“During this period, suppliers will not be able to use the bank’s supplier platform. However, rest assured that FirstBank’s supplier platform system will be open thereafter,” the bank said.

The bank’s announcement came amid recent challenges faced by several banks in Nigeria during system upgrades, which has prompted concerns among customers.

Many customers had misunderstood the earlier announcement and expressed apprehension on social media, fearing that the migration plans could disrupt their banking activities.