The First Bank of Nigeria (FBN) has announced the full restoration of services on its mobile banking platform, Firstmobile, following a brief disruption caused by a recent upgrade of the application.

In a statement on Monday, Folake Ani-Mumuney, group head of marketing and corporate communications at FBN, said Firstmobile is now fully operational.

The bank assured customers of its continued commitment to delivering seamless and innovative financial services.

“Firstmobile is now up and running as the bank remains committed to delivering seamless and innovative financial services to enhance the digital banking experience of our customers, irrespective of where they may be across the globe,” First Bank said.

“However, customers who still experience challenges in accessing or using their Firstmobile app are encouraged to contact our dedicated customer service team, FirstContact, via any of the means below: On phone: 070 FIRSTCONTACT (0700 34778 2668228) 02014485500, 07080625000, 08070194190.

“Email: complaints@firstbankgroup.com and firstcontactcomplaints@firstbankgroup.com.”

In addition to Firstmobile, the bank said customers can continue to enjoy convenient access to a wide range of banking services via its other channels such as firstonline (online banking platform), firstmonie wallet and firstmonie (agent banking).

Others include FirstBank automated teller machines (ATMs), FirstBank debit and credit cards, and USSD banking.

The financial institution apologised for any inconvenience caused during the service disruption and reassured customers of its dedication to providing a seamless banking experience.

Last week, First Bank customers took to X to express frustration over their inability to access the bank’s mobile platform.

In response, the bank issued a statement on October 1 apologising for the disruption and assuring customers that efforts were being made to resolve the issue.

The bank also urged customers to use alternative channels to complete transactions while the technical difficulties persisted.

In a follow-up statement on October 2, the company reiterated that its team was actively working to resolve the problem, encouraging the use of alternative channels.

The Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) says customers will experience a payment service downtime from October 18 to October 21.

The company, in a statement on Monday, said the disruption would be caused by its planned migration to a new system.

“The Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) wishes to inform its valued customers of a planned payment service downtime scheduled to take place from October 18th to October 21st, 2024,” the statement reads.

“This disruption is necessitated by EKEDC’s planned migration to a new, state-of-the-art All in-One System designed to enhance operational efficiency and improve customer experience.

“During this period, customers will be unable to make payments or recharge their prepaid meters via both online platforms and physical payment outlets.

“While electricity supply will not be affected, EKEDC kindly implores all customers to recharge their prepaid meters and settle outstanding bills ahead of the downtime to avoid any disruption in service.”

In his remarks, Babatunde Lasaki, the general manager of corporate communications at EKEDC, said the organisation is unwavering in its pursuit of providing superior customer experience, leveraging technology and valuable human capital.

“The All in-One System will enable us to better manage customer data, streamline billing and operational processes, respond more effectively to service issues and give our customers the self-service option,” he said.

“Once completed, our customers will have access to their own information and transaction history; removing the need to reach out to us or visit any of our offices before getting their information.

“Our team is working diligently to ensure a seamless transition, therefore, we urge our prepaid customers to kindly buy units that will last them throughout this payment service downtime period to avoid any disruption to their electricity service and implore our postpaid customers to make their bill payments as they will be unable to do so during this period.”

Lasaki said the organisation’s customer service team would remain available to provide support during the downtime.

The spokesperson said EKEDC remains dedicated to making the migration a seamless process and would resume full payment services after completion.

He appreciated the cooperation and understanding of the customers as the organisation works to improve services to better meet their needs.

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is set to issue the new Advanced Canada Workers Benefit (ACWB) payment on October 11th, 2024.

This payment provides financial relief for low-income workers and their families across Canada.

Immigration News Canada reports that this disbursement is part of the Canada Workers Benefit (CWB) program, which helps working members of the society increase their income and cope with rising living costs.

Understanding Advanced Canada Workers Benefit 

The Advanced Canada Workers Benefit (ACWB) is a payment program designed to help low-income workers. It allows eligible individuals to receive part of their Canada Workers Benefit (CWB) in advance, rather than waiting until tax season.

Recipients can get up to 50% of their CWB amount through three payments spread throughout the year, providing financial support when they need it most.

The payment schedule for the 2024 benefit year includes: 

– July 12th, 2024 (already issued)

– October 11th, 2024

– January 10th, 2025

Overview of the Canada Workers Benefit (CWB) and Disability Supplement 

The CWB consists of two parts: the basic CWB benefit and the disability supplement.

Basic CWB Benefit

INC informs that the basic CWB amount is calculated based on adjusted net income and family status. For single individuals, the maximum annual benefit is $1,518 if their income is $24,975 or less.

This amount gradually decreases as income rises, phasing out completely at $35,095. For families, the maximum annual benefit is $2,616 for an adjusted net income of $28,494 or less, phasing out at $45,934.

Disability Supplement 

Individuals eligible for the disability tax credit can also receive a disability supplement.

If you are single and earn $35,098 or less per year, you can get up to $784. For families, if their combined income is $40,325 or less, they can also qualify for this amount.

Also, if both partners in a couple are eligible for the supplement, their total family income must be $56,386 or less to receive it.

Eligibility for the Advanced Canada Workers Benefit 

To qualify for the Canada Workers Benefit (CWB), you need to meet specific requirements related to income, residency, and other factors. Here are the main conditions:

1. Working Income: You must have a job and your net income should be below the limit for your province or territory.
2. Age: You must be at least 19 years old by December 31, or live with your spouse, common-law partner, or child.
3. Residency: You must have lived in Canada for the entire year.

Individuals are not eligible for the CWB if they were confined to prison during the year, are full-time students for over 13 weeks without dependents, or do not pay tax in Canada due to diplomatic status.

Enhancing your benefits 

INC reports that in order to ensure timely receipt of the Advanced Canada Workers Benefit payments, individuals can follow these guidelines:

• File Taxes Early: The CRA determines eligibility based on income tax returns. Filing promptly can facilitate timely payments.
• Sign Up for Direct Deposit: Direct deposit allows payments to be deposited directly into bank accounts, reducing delays.
• Monitor Payment Dates: Keep track of payment dates to anticipate when funds will be available.
• Check Eligibility: Review income and residency criteria annually to maintain eligibility.

Payment dates to note 

Reports tell of these are the remaining dates for the Advanced Canada Workers Benefit payment dates:

• October 11th, 2024
• January 10th, 2025

These payments, issued quarterly, represent up to 50% of the total CWB amount for the year. While most recipients will receive payments on schedule, it may take up to 10 business days for funds to appear in bank accounts, depending on financial institutions and direct deposit enrollment.

Application Process for the ACWB 

• Further reports relate that no separate application is needed for the Advanced Canada Workers Benefit. When individuals file their income tax and benefit returns, the CRA automatically assesses their eligibility for the Canada Workers Benefit.
• If eligible, the CRA calculates the benefit amount and begins issuing payments accordingly.
• To ensure timely receipt, individuals are advised to file their tax returns before November 1st of the benefit period and keep their banking information updated.