First Bank Nigeria Plc is surcharging customers N100 for failure to use Automated Teller Machines (ATM) for withdrawals of sums below N60,000.

The form for the forfeiture, which carried the customer's account number and signed by a branch manager of the bank reads " Bill amount charged to your account for withdrawing without the use of ATM card."

A bank official, who preferred anonymity, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at one of the banks on Monday that the surcharge was to make customers obtain ATM cards.

He said the purpose of introducing the ATM cards was to decongest the banking hall to enhance efficient transactions for those withdrawing huge amounts.

A cross section of customers at the bank, who commented on the issue, said the new policy was not customers-friendly, stressing that they had to go through series of documentations before making withdrawals.

One of the customers, Mr Danjuma Korman, blamed the bank for failing to inform the customers before commencing the policy.

"It is wrong for the bank to suddenly come up with this policy. I withdrew money on Friday last week and there was nothing like this.

"I don't like this ambush that gets you unprepared, this is a new a year and we shouldn't' start on this note," he said.

Others, however, complained of the unreliability of the machines, saying they had their monies trapped at earlier transactions.

They said that using cheque leaflets for withdrawals was the most reliable means.

As a result of the development, many customers, who had to withdraw money after spending what they had for the Christmas and New Year celebration, had to wait for hours to process the papers needed to use the ATMs.

NAN reports that the banking halls of most FirstBank branch offices in Kaduna were filled with customers trying to get the right desk for documentation.

NAN further reports that following the introduction of the ATM in the country, most banks, especially the new generation ones, had restricted withdrawals of money below N50, 000 to the Teller Machines.