CBN PoS withdrawal limit
In a bid to combat the increasing rate of financial crimes and fraud, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has introduced a daily withdrawal limit of ₦100,000 on Point-of-Sale (PoS) transactions.
This new policy, which took effect on January 9, 2023, has been met with mixed reactions from Nigerians. While some have welcomed the move, others have expressed concerns about its potential impact on small businesses and the unbanked population.
The CBN, however, has defended its decision, arguing that it is necessary to protect the financial system and reduce the incidence of fraud. The apex bank also said that the new limit will help to promote the use of electronic payments and reduce the amount of cash in circulation.
What are the implications of the new CBN PoS withdrawal limit?
- Reduced cash availability: The new limit will make it more difficult for individuals to withdraw large amounts of cash at a time. This could have a negative impact on small businesses that rely on cash transactions.
- Increased use of electronic payments: The CBN hopes that the new limit will encourage people to use electronic payment methods, such as mobile money and bank transfers.
- Reduced fraud: The CBN believes that the new limit will help to reduce fraud by making it more difficult for criminals to launder money.
What are the concerns about the new CBN PoS withdrawal limit?
- Inconvenience for small businesses: Small businesses that rely on cash transactions may find it difficult to operate under the new limit.
- Exclusion of the unbanked population: The new limit could exclude the unbanked population, who rely on PoS transactions to access financial services.
- Potential for black market: The new limit could create a black market for cash withdrawals, as people may be willing to pay a premium to withdraw more than the limit.
The CBN's new PoS withdrawal limit is a controversial policy that has both pros and cons. It remains to be seen how the policy will affect the financial system and the Nigerian economy in the long run.