How GTB wants to help Nigerians amidst COVID-19 spread
Not many people anticipated that the outbreak and spread of COVID-19 would pose a huge threat to businesses and the services they provide as well as other activities that is forcing people to start resorting to social distancing.
The Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) announced on Saturday that 10 new cases have been confirmed in the country, bringing the total number of COVID-19 cases in Nigeria to 22, while two have recovered.
In the midst of the fear the virus is creating and the precautionary measures being taken by Nigerians as advised by government and healthcare professionals, some organisations have started showing their human side, acting responsibly and taking good initiatives as citizens and businesses face the unexpected.
Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) showed such example on Saturday when it sent out an email to its customers on how it plans to support them as they maintain social distancing and reduce contact with cash which are known to be notorious carriers of germs
Studies have shown that paper bills can contain bacteria and viruses and lead to the spread of disease. To encourage its customers to reduce handling of cash during transactions and adopt cashless policy, GTB said it is waving charges on transfers from N5000 and below.
The email read:
“From now till the 31st of March 2020, when you want to give money to family, help out a friend in need, pay for items at any grocery store, or send money to anyone at all, you will not be charged on transfers of up to N5,000.
“This is our little way of encouraging you to go cashless on all your transactions, no matter how small; it is the safer and more convenient thing to do, especially at this time.”
In most poorly developed countries with struggling economies and those with bad governments, what will make a difference is the intervention from decent corporate entities as citizens try hard to comply with social distancing directive as part of measures to contain the spread of the virus.
