When growing up as a child in my elementary classes we were taught in commerce and economic subjects that savings account with banks are entitled to either weekly or monthly interested added into the account by the banks, as a way of encouraging savings amongst middle or average earners in the society. But growing up to an adult I am seeing an incongruous practice to that ideology as was been taught in my elementary days. What a shame!
As reverse is rather the case.
Starching money in the bank as savings don't just only reduce initial deposit amount through consistent unreasonable different charges but also also posed on the individual the possibility of not having access to your money when needed and even in the very amount needed to withdraw because of regulatory and centralized power placed in the hands of one man called the government. And all of these regulations only work in favour of the regulator at the centre.
This thread is informed by a trending news in the financial market I came across a day ago. According to a domestic newspaper VANGUARD, "The Central Bank of Nigeria through the governor of the bank has issued 48 hours deadline to commercial banks to deposit not less than N6.96trillion of customers' deposit into it's account".
A directive that was issued on Tuesday 27, Sept, 2022, for commercial banks to increase their CRR to 32.5 per cent with effect from 28, Sept, 2022. (CRR is the percentage or proportion of a bank's total cash deposit that must be kept as reserves with the CBN).
Source:
www.legit.ngMany bank customers have no knowledge yet on how this directive will affect them as the commercial banks will in turn create some restrictions on customers in anyway possible as to place a limit to their withdrawal amounts. A situation where an individual has money but can't access it in the amount desired to use in solving a pressing need aszhe case may be, cause on the other hand the commercial banks wouldn't want a situation where they will not have enough money within their confine to run their own business to making profit for themselves.
All these at the detriment and cost of the powerless customer.
This among other issues had made me stunch proponent and advocate of cryptocurrency especially Bitcoin as the best alternative to starching or savings, with probably just a very insignificant amount of Fiat money for bank savings if you so wish. Cause the centrality and regulatory authority enjoyed by the government woul never make for decisions in the best interest of the ordinary citizens.
An argument many out there can relate with.