A CRITICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE ROLE OF BANK VERIFICATION NUMBER (BVN) IN REDUCING FRAUD IN NIGERIAN BANKS

A CRITICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE ROLE OF BANK VERIFICATION NUMBER (BVN) IN REDUCING FRAUD IN NIGERIAN BANKS (A CASE STUDY OF CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA, UYO BRANCH)

BACKGROUND OF STUDY
The rate at which fraudulent activities is going on in the country these days is becoming unbearable; the federal
government of Nigeria and the CBN have being on their toes to resolve the issue of frauds and to boost financial
security in most of the Nigerian banking industry; because all these issues the central bank of Nigeria on
february, 2014 made it compulsory that all account holders should have a bank verification number so as to
enable the account holder to have a single identity in all the banks in Nigeria; all he or she need to do is to link it
with his or her accounts. The essence of this system is to help the bank in the protection of their customers from
theft and other financial/ economic crimes growing in the banking industry (orji, 2014)
The Bank Verification Nlumber (BVN) is a great step taken by the Central Bank of Nigeria, to strengthen the
financial security and order in the banking sector of Nigeria. One of the importance of the BVN is that
transactions will be safer once all protocol is duely observed. The essence of this BVN exercise is to ensure that
bank transactions are safer and fraudulent transactions are minimized, if not totally eliminated. The central bank
of Nigeria have put in alot of effort to see the success of this excercise, but the general public do not know the
importance of the bank verification number; but they started seeing the importance of the bank verification
number when the cental bank made it clear that the excercise will stop by october 2015.
The bank verification number system uses biometric technology to register customers in the banking sector. It
records these physical features which are unique to individuals fingerprints and the face; this techniques was
made effective because every individual has his or her own unique finger prints. The record would be used to
identify the person afterwards. Once a person’s biometrics have been recorded, and BVN issued the account
would be accessed through BVN. The major objectives of the initiative are to protect bank customers, reduce
fraud and strengthen the Nigerian banking system. Biometric enrolment is helpful to people who cannot read and
write. Their finger prints and pictures would serve the same purpose as signatures.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Without doubts, Nigerian banking sector has contributed to the growth and development of the Nigeria. The
Nigerian banking sector has maintained the inflow of money in the country so as to stabilize the country’s
economy. According to Udenze, 2014; stated that growth in this sector has been reduced due to high cases of
economic and financial crimes; fraud and money laundry have significant effect on the financial security in the
Nigeria banking industry. They have caused damage to the reputation of the image of the country, loss of FDI,
poor infrastructural development, dwindling confidence and distortions in our political as well as financial
systems, among other things.
In view of these crises crimes perpetuated by cyber thieves, the mandatory bank verification number exercise
embarked by various banks nationwide has also caused congestions in banking halls. Although the exercise
commenced since February, 2014, the fire brigade approach of most Nigerians has warranted most bank halls to
be filled to its maximum capacity. Queues in some banks even extended outside the banking hall. This development has caused confusion in some banking halls as other transactions are placed on hold due to
inadequate staff to attend to clients or delayed indefinitely
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The main object of the research work is to elicit information on the impact of BVN on financial security in
Nigerian Banks. Specific objectives of the study are:
To monitor effect of the bank verification number on the level of financial crimes in Nigeria
To give everyone access to a single account
To help limit multiple account by a single owner.
To investigate the role of the central bank of Nigeria in the implementation of the bank verification number
system
To investigate the impact of BVN system on the level of financial safety in the Nigerian banks.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1. What are effects of the BVN on the level of financial crimes in Nigeria?
2. What is the impact of BVN system on the level of financial safety in the Nigerian banks?
3. What are roles of the central bank of Nigeria in the implementation of the BVN?
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The research work is a very important one as it will investigate the the role of the central bank of Nigeria in the
implementation of the BVN system, the study will discuss the importance of bank verification number, the bank
verification number initiatives will help limt every one to single account so as to monitor the level of financial
crimes in Nigeria. The study will also discuss the role of the central bank of Nigeria in the implementation of
bank. verification number system. Finally the study will discuss the role of bank verification number on the level
of security.
1.6 SCOPE OF STUDY.
The research work is limted to the study of the impact of BVN on financial security in Nigeria banks.
1.7 LIMITATION OF STUDY.
The study is limited to Central Bank of Nigeria, Uyo branch.
REFERENCES
Udenze, B. (2014).
BVN: CBN targets 80% fraud reduction in
banking sector. Obtainable at .
Orji, V, O. (2015). Knowledge management systems: Issues,
challenges, and benefits. Communications of the Association for Information Systems

A CRITICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE ROLE OF BANK VERIFICATION NUMBER (BVN) IN REDUCING FRAUD IN NIGERIAN BANKS