CBN bans 17 banks from forex market

In response to persistent complaints that some Deposit Money Banks have deliberately frustrated efforts by many Small and Medium Enterprises to access forex from the new window created by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, the apex Bank barred all but eight banks from dealing in the SME wholesale forex window.

The financial regulator, it was gathered, took the decision to bar the erring banks based on field reports, which revealed that only eight banks had sold forex to the SMEs segment since the inception of the new window.

CBN frowned at the action of banks that declined to sell foreign exchange to SMEs to enable them import eligible finished and semi-finished items despite the availability of forex from the CBN wholesale intervention window.

Confirming the decision, CBN Acting Director, Corporate Communications, Isaac Okorafor, on said all banks that had refused to sell forex to the SME actors after accessing over $300 million offered to the SMEs wholesale forex window since its creation last month will be sanctioned accordingly.

Okorafor listed the banks not barred to include: Access Bank Plc, Diamond Bank Plc, Fidelity Bank, Heritage Bank, Jaiz Bank, Sterling Bank, Unity Bank and Zenith Bank.

He warned that the CBN would not sit back and allow any form of instability in the interbank forex market through the actions of institutions or individuals.

He, therefore, urged all stakeholders to play by the rules for the benefit of the entire country and its economy.