Access Bank Slams ‘Fake News’ Shutdown Rumors: ‘We’re Going Nowhere!’

Access Bank Plc has come out swinging against a wave of wild internet rumors, fiercely debunking viral social media claims that the banking giant is about to pull the plug on its operations.

In a fiery response to the online frenzy, the top-tier lender assured terrified account holders that their money is safe, sound, and ready to spend—branding the viral shutdown posts as nothing more than a malicious hoax designed to trigger chaos.

Panic swept through timeline feeds on Thursday after a sneaky fake message; designed to look like an official announcement—started making the rounds, claiming the bank was heading for a sudden shutdown. But management was quick to shut down the drama, taking straight to X (formerly Twitter) to clear the air and set the record straight.

“Access Bank is safe, financially strong, and fully operational across all our subsidiaries,” the bank declared in a hard-hitting statement. “Our services continue to run seamlessly, and we remain committed to serving our customers with the highest standards of excellence.”

Not content with just setting the record straight, Access Bank is taking off the gloves. The lender revealed it has already sicced regulatory powers and law enforcement on the internet trolls who started the firestorm, promising to track down and prosecute the phantom creators of the fake memo.

“We are working closely with the relevant regulatory and law enforcement authorities to identify those responsible for creating and spreading this false information to cause panic and business disruption,” the bank warned, dropping a clear hint that jail time could be on the table for those involved.

The bank delivered a sharp reminder that cooking up fake news to spark public panic is a major crime under Section 24 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024—meaning the culprits behind the stunt could soon find themselves behind bars.

With millions of customers breathing a collective sigh of relief, Access Bank is urging the public to hit the brakes on forwarding the toxic messages and double-check any wild claims against official verified channels.

“If you receive a false and misleading message, please do not share or forward it. Instead, disregard it and rely only on information communicated through Access Bank’s official and verified channels,” the bank advised.