CBN Debits Deposit Money Banks N118bn for Not Meeting CRR Target

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Friday debited the nation’s deposit money banks a total sum of N118 billion for failing to meet 27.5 percent Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) target.

This is the fourth of such action, bringing the total amount debited so far this year to N2.2 trillion.

According to Tunde Abidoye, an analyst at Lagos-based FBN Quest, the move brings “further downward pressure on banks liquidity ratios and earnings.”

“Based on the total sum that each bank has been debited this year, and our NIM assumptions for each bank, we estimate an aggregate opportunity cost of funds of N86bn for our universe of banks coverage,” Abidoye stated in a note to clients.

The central bank continues to debit banks to force them to loan more into the real sector and also reduce their forex purchasing power to better manage the nation’s weak foreign reserves and curb capital outflow. A series of recent reports have pointed to a possible foreign exchange devaluation to ease pressure on the nation’s reserves.

The report shows that the Stanbic IBTC and Guaranty Trust Bank were debited N15 billion each.

Details later…