ACCOUNT OPENING AGREEMENT/TERMS AND CONDITIONS
These Terms and Conditions are applicable to all accounts whether opened on the date of agreeing to these Terms and Conditions or on a later/prior date.
I/We undertake and agrees to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.
I/We confirm and agree that my/our account(s) and all banking transactions between me/us (“the customer”, or “me”, or “us” or “we”) and RICHWAY Microfinance Bank Ltd (“the Bank”) shall be governed by the conditions specified below and/ or the terms of any specific agreement between me/us and the Bank or where not regulated by either the conditions of such agreement, by customary banking practices in Nigeria:
1. The bank will not establish or operate the requested account(s) unless and until it has received minimum requirements for account opening.
2. The Bank is hereby authorized to undertake all “Know Your Customer” (KYC), search and due diligence procedures specified by applicable law and/or regulations and/or bank polices including the confirmation of legal status at the appropriate government registry. I/We hereby authorize you to debit my/our account without further notices to me/us for the cost attended to such KYC procedures.
3. The Bank may, without prior notice, impose or change the minimum balance requirements for my/our account(s) for or the charges relating to such account(s) or any of them.
4. The Bank is authorized, where the balance standing to the credit of my/our account(s) is below the required minimum balance, to either amend the rate(s) of interest payable or close the account(s) (in accordance terms of the relevant product type)
5. The Bank is authorized to transfer money from any deposit account l/We maintain to any other account(s) l/We maintain with the Bank whose balance is below the requirement minimum.
6. The Bank shall, in addition to any right of set-off or similar right prescribed by law, be entitled, without notice, to combine and consolidate all or any of my/our or account(s) with the Bank (without any liabilities to the Bank) to set off or transfer any or all amounts owed by me/us or either of us or a related party to the Bank against any and all money which the Bank may hold on my/our accounts or any other type of credit be it cash, cheques, valuables, deposits, security instruments belonging to me or us whether held on current or deposit account.
7. The Bank shall be entitled to retain and not repay any amount whatsoever that it owed to me/us or which it holds on my/our behalf, unless and until all amounts owed by me/us or related party to the Bank have been repaid or discharge in full and, so long as such amounts have not been discharged or repaid in full, the Bank shall be entitled to appropriate any amount so owed to me/us or held on my/our behalf in or towards the payment and discharge of the amounts owed by me/us or either of us or related party to the bank. ‘Related Party’ means an entity where the customer is a director/shareholder/guarantor.
8. Any delay or omission of the Bank in exercising or enforcing (whether wholly or in part) any right or remedy arising in respect of the account(s) shall not be construed as a waiver of such right or remedy.
9. l/We shall be responsible for all costs expenses and liabilities arising from the purchase, retention and sale of investments made on our behalf by the Bank which include but are not limited to all taxes, statutory fees, duties and levies.
10. The Bank is hereby authorized, in the absence of any written instruction to the contrary, to place my/our funds in any appropriate investment (which for the purpose of this clause shall include but not limited to investments in commercial paper whether guaranteed by the Bank or otherwise) or on deposit and to renew/reinvest at maturity any investments or deposit made in my/our name(s) on the same terms and conditions that applied prior to its maturity or on such other terms and conditions as the Bank may, in its absolute discretion, consider appropriate under the circumstance.
11. The Bank may, unless otherwise instructed by me/us retain on my/our behalf, on a safe custody basis, any investment instruments issued in respect of an investment made on my/our behalf and unless otherwise specifically agreed. l/We will not have recourse to the bank for the value or worth of such investments.
12. Where the Bank, in the absence of any previous agreement as to rate of interest and costs and charges that will apply if my/our account(s) or any of them becomes overdrawn, in its absolute discretion allow us to make any drawing that results in my/our account(s) or any of them becoming overdrawn, the bank shall be entitled to charge such rate of interest and impose such charges as, in its absolute discretion, considers appropriate in the circumstance (s)and l/We agree to pay such interest and charges to the Bank on demand.
13. l/We agree that where l/we give any instruction for a payment or payments that in aggregate exceed(s) the amounts standing to the credit of my/our account(s) against which payment is to be made. The bank reserves the right to decline to carry out such instruction or where there is more than one transaction, to select the transactions that shall be executed without reference to the date of dispatch or time or receipt of my/our instructions. lf the bank in its discretion makes any such payment for which our/my account is not funded. We/l confirm our obligation to repay the Bank whether or not the Bank makes a demand, any outstanding sum in addition to charges and interest accrued thereon.
14. Where any uncleared effects credited to my/our account(s) by the Bank are subsequently dishonored and/or the Bank for any reason is required to repay to the paying banker or any other party all or any part of any amount credited to our account. The Bank will be entitled to debit my/our account(s) with the amount of such uncleared effects and/or repay amounts plus accrued interest and applicable.
15. No failure or delay in exercising any right power or privilege vested in the Bank by these conditions shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any partial exercise of such right power or privilege preclude any other or further exercise thereof.
16. lf any of the conditions or the provisions specified herein are invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under the law the validity legality and enforceability of the remaining conditions and/or provisions contained herein shall not in any manner be affected or impaired thereby.
17. Commission and charges shall be levied in accordance with the Bank’s standard scale of charges in force from time to time and copies of which are available on request. The Bank reserves the right to at any time amend its rates of Interest, standard scale of charges and/or conditions.
18. Where these conditions are signed by or on behalf of more than one person as the customer, all of such persons are bound by the terms of these conditions.
19. Any communication by the Bank shall be deemed to have been made as soon as it is sent to the most recent address provided by me/us and the date indicated on the duplicated copy of such letter or on the Bank’s mailing list will constitute the date on which the communication was sent’ Any statement or confirmation of any transaction between me/us or either of us and Bank shall be deemed to have been examined by me/us and to be conclusive and binding unless within 10 working days from the date specified on such statement/confirmation. l/we or either of us shall advise the Bank in writing that an item contained therein is being disputed, whether or not such item was made in accordance with the mandate from time to time given by me/us to the Bank.
20. l/we understand and acknowledge that electronic mail, and verbal communications are insecure transmission media. Where I/we advise the Bank to accept instruction in such manner, I/we However undertake to indemnify the Bank in full for any loss it may suffer or incur by reason of its honoring my/our letters, electronic mail, or verbal instructions, irrespective of whether same are erroneous fraudulent or issued otherwise than in accordance with the mandate for my/our account(s). Any and all payment instructions issued in accordance with the mandate and which bears or purports to bear the electronic signatures have been provided by me/us. The Bank is hereby authorized to honour for and to the debit of my/our account(s), any and all payment instructions issued in accordance with the mandate for the my/our account(s) and which bears or purports to bear the facsimile or electronic mail signature of the person(s) whose specimen signatures have been provided to the Bank by me/us. The bank is hereby authorized to honour for and to the debit of my/our account(s), any and all payment instructions/confirmations issued or provided by me/us using a pre-agreed format for the same which may include but is not limited to oral or written instructions/confirmations and where given orally such oral instruction may if previously agreed involves the use of specific password(s) and when given in writing may be given by Ietter, or electronic mail.
21. l/We hereby authorize the Bank to debit my/our account with the cost incurred in respect of cheque book for the above account.
22. Honour all cheques or other orders which may be drawn on the said account provided such cheques or order are signed by me/us and to debit such cheques or orders to the said account whether such account be for the time being in credit or overdrawn in consequence of such debit without prejudice to your right to refuse to allow any overdraft or increase of overdraft and in consideration, l/we agree:
(a) To assume full responsibility for the genuineness or correctness and validity of all endorsements appearing on all cheques, order, bills, notes, negotiable instruments, receipts and/or other document deposited in my/our account.
(b) To be responsible for any repayment of any overdraft with interest and to comply and be bound by the bank’s rules for the conduct of a current account receipt of which l/we hereby acknowledge.
(c) To free the Bank from any responsibility for any loss or damage of funds deposited with the bank due to any future Government order, law tax, embargo, moratorium, exchange restriction and/or all other causes beyond the Bank’s control.
(d) That all funds standing to my/our credit are payable on demand only in such local currency as may be in circulation.
(e) To be bound by any notification of change in the conditions governing the account directed to my/our last known address and any notice or letter sent to my/our last known address shall be by me/us at the time it would be delivered in the ordinary course of post.
(f) That if a cheque credited to my/our account is returned dishonoured, the same may be transmitted to me/us through my/our last known address either by bearer or by post
(e) And l/we note that the bank will accept no liability whatsoever for funds handed to members of the staff outside banking hours or outside the bank’s premises
(h) That my/our attention has been drawn to the necessity of safe guarding my/our cheque book so that unauthorized persons are unable to gain access to it and to the fact that neglect of this precaution may be a ground for any consequential loss being charged to my/our account without liability to the Bank.
(i) That my/our attention has also been drawn to the necessity of safe guarding my/our passwords and access codes to the Bank’s non-branch channels including, but not limited to ATM, Internet Banking, Mobile Banking and USSD banking, so that unauthorized persons are unable to access it and to the fact that neglect of this precaution may be a ground for any consequential loss being charged to my/our account without liability to the Bank.
j) where my account is not sufficiently funded the Bank is under no obligation to honour any cheque(s) drawn on the account to cover the value of the said cheques and l/We understand and agree that any such cheque may be returned to me/us unpaid but if paid, I am/we are obliged to repay the bank on demand.
(k) That any disagreement with entries on my/our bank statements will be made by me/us within 15 working days of the dispatch of the bank statement. Failing receipt by the Bank of a notice of disagreement of the entries with 15 days from the date of dispatch of my/our bank statement as rendered is correct.
(l) That any sum standing to the debit of the current account shall be liable to interest charges at the rate fixed by the bank from time to time. The bank is authorized to debit from the account the usual banking charges, set by the management from time to time.
23. l/We hereby affirm that l/We are aware that it is a crime under the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to issue cheque(s) without sufficient funds in my/our account in the value of my/our cheques. WE/l undertake to bear all consequences and /or liabilities arising from My/Our account where such account is not sufficiently funded with the value of My/Our cheques.
24. l/We hereby agree that the operational dynamics of my account can be modified without recourse to me at any time based on the new directive from CBN as follows:
i. Tier 1- low value accounts limited to a maximum single deposit of N50,000 and maximum cumulative balance of N300,000 at any point in time.
ii. Tier 2- Medium value accounts limited to a maximum single deposit of N100,000 and a maximum cumulative balance of N500,000 permitted at any point in time.
iii. Tier 3-High value accounts where customers provide an acceptable or valid means of identification for account opening.
ELECTRONIC BANKING
We confirm and agree that the following terms and conditions shall govern my/our Electronic Banking transactions with the Bank. The following terms and conditions shall govern the Bank’s e-Banking Services.
1. DEFINITIONS
“Customers” means a customer of the Bank who has or operates an account with the Bank and is named in the application form. Where two individuals are named either or both of them are customers.
“The Bank” means RICHWAY Microfinance Bank
“Card Holders” means a customer who has been issued RICHWAY Microfinance Bank ATM card. The card is the property of the Bank and will be returned unconditionally and immediately to the bank upon request by the “Bank”
“Service” means the RICHWAY Microfinance Bank Internet Banking, Mobile App Banking, USSD, notification (SMS alert) Automatic Teller Machine (ATM).
“Access code”, passcode, Username and Password” means the enabling code with which access the system for the service and which is known to you only.
“Account” means a current or saving account or other account maintained with the bank at any of the bank’s branches in Nigeria.
“PIN” means the Personal Identification Number
“ATM” means Automated Teller Machine that dispenses cash to account holder via the use of debit/credit cards or accept cash deposits.
“ATM Card” means the card used by a customer for initiating transactions on the various electronic payment channels e.g ATM, POS, and Internet.
“Secure Messages Facility” means the facility within the e-Banking Service that enables the client to send electronic messages (e-mail, SMS) to the Bank, including and without limitation free -format messages, fixed format messages or instructions to make payments, request for cheque books, Bank drafts or the purchase or sale of securities and interests in mutual funds.
2. The Service allows the customer to give the Bank instructions by use of:
(a) Telephone, ATM PIN Password, Access Code, Username and secure message (e-mail, sms) internet banking of the following:
(i) Obtain information regarding customer’s balances as at the last date of business with the Bank.
(ii) Obtain information with regards to any instrument in clearing or any balance standing in the customer’s account as at the last date of transaction on the customer’s account.
(iii) Authorize the Bank to debit customer’s account to pay specified utility bill such as Telco, Electricity, WATER RATE and/or any other bills as specified by the customer subject however to availability of such bill payment under this service.
(iv) Authorize the Bank to effect a transfer of funds from the customer’s account to any other account with the Bank and outside the Bank.
(v) Authorize the Bank to effect/stop any payment order
(vi) Authorize the Bank to debit customers account and load same into a designated card. (vii) View transaction history on customers account
(b) On receipt of instruction, the Bank will endeavor to carry out the customer’s instruction promptly, except in the event of any unforeseen circumstances such as Act of God, force majeure and other causes beyond the Bank’s control
3. For the service to be available to any customer, he/she must have any one or a combination of the following:
(i) Any account with the bank &
(ii) A valid email address
(ii) A Pass code, Access code, User name, Password or token authenticator (iv) A Person Identification Number (PIN)
(v) Valid GSM/landline number
(vi.) Bank’s Verification Number (BVN)
4. Under no circumstances shall the customer allow anybody access to his/her account through the service.
5. The Passcode/Access Code/Username/password/E-mail:
(a) The Customer understands that his/her Passcode, Access Code/Username/Password/E-mail is used to give instruction to the BANK and accordingly undertakes:
(i) That under no circumstances shall the passcode/Access code/Password be disclosed to anybody.
(ii) Not to write the Passcode/Access Code/Username/password in an open place in order to avoid third party coming across same.
(b) The customer instructs and authorizes the BANK to comply with any instructions given to the BANK through the use of the service.
(c) Once the BANK ls instructed by means of the customer’s Passcode, Access code , Username and PlN the BANK is entitled to assume that those are the instruction given by the customer and to rely same.
(d) The BANK is exempted from any form of liability whatsoever for complying with any or all instruction(s) given by means of the customer’s passcode, Access Code if by any means the Passcode, Access code becomes known to a third party or otherwise becomes compromised.
(e) Where a customer notifies the BANK through Email (and where the Bank acknowledges receipt of same) of his/her intention to change his Passcode/Access Code arising from loss of memory of same, or that it has come to the notice of a third party, the BANK shall, with the consent of the customer, delete same and thereafter allow the customer to enter a new Passcode/Access code provided that the BANK shall not be responsible for any loss that occurs between the period of such loss of memory of the passcode/Access code or knowledge of a third party and the time the report is lodged with the BANK.
(f) Once a customer’s Passcode/Access code/Username is given, it shall be sufficient confirmation of the authenticity of the instruction given.
(g) The customer shall be responsible for any instruction given by means of the customer’s Passcode/Access code/Username. Accordingly, the BANK shall not be responsible for any fraudulent, duplicate or erroneous instruction given by means of the customer’s Passcode/Access code/Username.
6. CUSTOMER’S RESPONSIBILITY
(i) The customer undertakes to be absolutely responsible for safeguarding his Username, Access code, Passcode, PIN and Password, and under no circumstance shall the customer disclose any or all of these to any person.
(ii) The customer undertakes to ensure the secrecy of his Access code, Passcode, Username, PIN and password by not reproducing same in any manner whatsoever either in writing or otherwise capable of making it known to persons other than the customer.
(iii) The BANK is expressly exempted from any liability arising from authorized access to the customer’s account and/or data as contained in the BANK’s recodes via the service, which arising as a result of inability and/or otherwise of the customer to safeguard his PlN Passcode/Access code and/or Password and/or failure to log out of the system completely by allowing on screen display of his account information.
(iv) The BANK is further relieved of any liability as regards breach of duty of secrecy arising out of customer’s inability to scrupulously observe and implement the provisions of clauses 3(i) (iii) above, and/or instances of breach of such duty by hackers and other unauthorized access to the customer’s account via the service.
(v) The Customer’s access code and password must be changed immediately it becomes known to anyone else and therefore the customer is to effect the change. Where the customer cannot effect necessary change(s) on his/her own the customer is under a duty to notify the BANK whenever his/her Access code and/or Password have become known to another person.
(vi) Where a customer notifies the BANK of his intention to change his Access code and/or passcode arising from either his loss of memory of same or that it has come to notice of a third party, the BANK shall with the consent of the customer, delete same and thereafter allow the customer to enter a new passcode, Access code and Password, provided that the BANK shall not be responsible for any loss(es) that occur between the period of such memory of the Access code/passcode and/or Password or knowledge of a third party and time the report is lodged with the BANK.
viii The customer shall be responsible for any fraud, loss and/or liability to the BANK or third party arising rom usage of the customer’s Access code, passcode, PIN and/or Password being used by a third party and other unauthorized access. Accordingly the BANK shall not be responsible for any fraud that arises from usage of the customer’s Access code, passcode, PlN and/or Password.
7. Upon enrolling of a customer for the service, the customer may be charged the applicable monthly fee and/or usage fee whether or not the customer makes use of the service during the period in question.
8. Under no circumstances will the BANK be liable for any damages, including without limitation direct or indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages, losses or expenses arising in connection with this service or use thereof or inability to use by any party, or in connection with any failure of performance, error, omission, interruption, defect, delay in operation, transmission, computer virus or line or system failure, even if the BANK or its representatives thereof are advised of the possibility of such damages, losses or hyperlink to other internet resources are at the customers risk.
9. Copyright in the pages in the screens displaying the pages, and in the information and material therein and arrangement is owned by the BANK.
10. The BANK shall not be responsible for any electronic virus or viruses that the customer may encounter in course of making use of this service.
11. GUIDELINES/RULES
For the benefit and security of our customers and to comply with applicable laws, we have a few mandatory guidelines. Conducts that violates the rules and constitute ground for termination these services and the bank may for whatsoever reason vary these terms and conditions from time to time as the Bank deems fit. The customer undertakes to:
(i) Provide accurate information. Agree to provide true, accurate, current and complete information about himself/herself as requested in our registration form and account opening forms and the customer agree not to misrepresent his/her identity or information, which may include Username, Passwords or other access devices for such accounts,
(ii) Comply with the law. Customer agrees not to use the service for illegal purposes or for the transmission of material that is unlawful, harassing, libelous (untrue and damaging to others), invasive of another’s privacy, abusive, threatening or obscene, or that infringe the right of others.
(iii) Proprietary rights. The customer acknowledges and agrees that the BANK owns all right to this website and the content displayed on the site. The customer is only permitted to use this content as expressly authorized by the service. Customer may not copy, reproduce, distribute, or create derivative work from this. A violation of any of the above guidelines is grounds for discontinuation of the service by the BANK.
(iv) Pledge on Cheques issued. Customer hereby agrees and pledges to ensure that its/his/her account is adequately funded before issuing 3rd party cheques. Where the customer violates this pledge the customer accepts and agrees that there are attendant consequences which shall be meted out by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as well as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The consequences shall include but may not be restricted to investigation and prosecution by the EFCC. A violation of any of the above guidelines is grounds for discontinuation of the service by the BANK.
12. DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES
The customer expressly understands and agrees that use of the service is at their sole risk. The service is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis. The BANK expressly disclaims all warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, including, but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability,. fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement.
The BANK makes no warranty that:
(i) The service will meet customer’s requirements
(ii) The service will be uninterrupted, timely, secure, or error-free
(iii) The results may be obtained from the use of the service will be accurate or reliable
(iv) The quality of any products, service, information or other material purchased or obtained by the customer through the service will meet their expectations, and
(v) Any error in the technology will be corrected.
13. Any material downloaded or otherwise obtained through the use of the service is done at customer’ own discretion and risk and the BANK is not responsible for any damage to customer’s computer system or loss of data that result from the download of any such material. No advice or information, whether oral written, obtained by customer from us or through or from service will create any warranty not expressly stated in these terms.
14. LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY
l/We agree that the BANK will not be liable for any act, omission or damage whether direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or exemplary damages, including but not limited to damages for loss of profits, goodwill, use or other intangible losses, even if the BANK has been advised of the possibility of such damages, resulting from:
(l) The use or the inability to use the service
(ii) The cost of getting substitute goods and service resulting from any products, data, information or services purchased or obtained or messages received or transactions entered into through or from the services;
(iii) Unauthorized access to, or alteration or transmission of data; (iv) Statements or conduct of anyone on the service;
or
(v) Any other matter related to the service.
15. INDEMNITY
Except when caused by the BANK’s intentional misconduct or gross negligence, customer agree to protect and fully compensate the BANK and its affiliates and service providers from any/and all third party claims, liability, damages, expenses and costs (including, but not limited to, legal fees) caused by or arising from customer’s use of the service, violation of the terms or infringement, by any other user of customer’s account, or any intellectual property or other right of anyone.
16. SERVICE CHANGES AND DISCONTINUATION
The BANK reserves the right to change or discontinue, temporarily or permanently, the service at any time without notice. ln order to maintain the security and integrity of the service the BANK may also suspend customer’s access to the service at any time without notice. Customer agrees that the BANK will not be liable to the customer or any third party for any modification or discontinuation of the service.
17. MISCELLANEOUS
(i) The Bank shall not be considered an agent or to other legal representative of the customer for any purpose by reason of this agreement and/or any other party whom the customer is using this service to pay.
(ii) This agreement cannot be changed by the customer or any of the banks right waved unless the Bank agrees in writing or customer continue using the service following receipt of notice of any changes proposed by the Bank.
(iii) The agreement is personal to the customer and the customer shall not assign it to anyone.
(iv) All notice to the customer shall be in writing via the address the customer has provided to the bank, all address the customer has provided to the bank, all notice to the Bank must be made in writing sent to the bank’s address.
(v) The Bank and the customer shall be an independent contractor, and nothing contained in this agreement shall be deemed to create any association, partnership, joint venture or relation of principal, agent or master and servant, employer or employee between parties
(vi) If any of these terms is held to be unenforceable, then such provision shall be construed, as nearly as possible, to reflect the intentions of the parties with the other provisions remaining in full force and effect.
(vii) The laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall apply to this agreement.
18. AUTHORITY TO DEBIT MY/OUR ACCOUNT FOR CHEQUE BOOK AND ATM DEBIT CARD
ln consideration of RICHWAY Microfinance Bank opening account on my/our behalf; l/we hereby authorized RICHWAY MFB to debit my/our account with the cost incurred in respect of cheque book and or ATM Debit Card for the above account.
19. l/we hereby release and discharge RICHWAY Microfinance Bank Ltd from its, obligation under the Banker’s duty of secrecy and forswear my/our right to Any claim and damages.
This authorization gives you authority to also accept and act upon our telephone and telex instructions as well. l/we hereby certify that the information given on this platform is correct and that l/We have read understood and agree with the Account Opening Terms & Conditions governing the selected account(s).
20. CREDIT BUREAU
The Customer acknowledges that the Bank consults with various credit bureaus and reference agencies, and may be required to disclose the Customers information to these credit bureau for the purpose of conducting checks on the customer. The customer hereby irrevocably and unconditionally grants his/hers/its consent to the Bank and expressly authorizes such disclosure of any or all information on his/her/its/ transactions with the Bank, to such credit bureaus and reference agencies whether based internationally or locally, these includes information on Customers Directors and other personnel, transactions and conduct on Customers account together with details of any nonpayment or delayed payments as the Bank may deem fit. The consent herein discharges the Bank all liabilities, claims and damages for such disclosure made by the Bank to any credit bureau pursuant to the consent herein granted.
21. If a fraudulent activity is associated with the operation of a customer’s account, the customer agrees that the Bank has the right to apply restrictions on the customer’s account and report to appropriate law enforcement agencies.
22. DECLARATION
I/We hereby apply for the opening of account(s) with RICHWAY Microfinance Bank Ltd. l/We understand that the information given herein is the basis for opening such account(s) and hereby warrant that such information is correct.
I/We hereby undertake to indemnify the bank of any loss suffered as a result of any false information or error in the information provided to the Bank.