The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has penalised six banks for N1.314 billion over alleged non-compliance with a regulation on cryptocurrency accounts.
The banks include Stanbic IBTC, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Access Bank, Wema Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) and Fidelity Bank.
Stanbic IBTC Bank, the domestic unit of Standard Bank Group Ltd, was fined N200 million for failing to comply with the apex bank’s director, according to the lender’s 2021 consolidated and separate financial statement.
In February 2021, the apex bank directed banks to close accounts of persons or entities involved in cryptocurrency transactions within their systems.
In the circular released to deposit money banks (DMB), non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs), and other financial institutions (OFIs), the apex bank noted that disobedience to the directive would attract severe penalties.
STANBIC IBTC – N200 MILLION
Central Bank fined Stanbic IBTC N200 million for contravening the 2021 circular on cryptocurrency.
FCMB – N400 MILLION
First City Monument Bank (FCMB) was also fined by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over its failure to close four accounts of customers said to be involved in cryptocurrency.
ACCESS BANK – N500 MILLION
In its 2021 consolidated and separate financial statement, Access Bank Plc said it was fined N500 million naira for “failure to close some customer’s crypto accounts.”
UBA – N100 MILLION
United Bank for Africa Plc also received N100 million penalty for cryptocurrency transactions by a customer.
FIDELITY BANK – N14.28 MILLION
Fidelity Bank Plc received a sanction of N14.28 million for cryptocurrency infractions, the bank said in its 2021 audited financial statement.
WEMA BANK – N100 MILLION
Wema Bank got a sanction of N100 million ‘for contravening CBN circular on cryptocurrency’.
