For some time now, we have been writing and reporting about Equity Bank escapades. We started with the case where they connived with city businessman Sudhir Ruparelia, to whom, they fraudulently sold Ssimbamannyo Building whose owner, Architect Peter Kamya recently succumbed to pressure and died under unclear circumstances.
Along the way, a cluster of Ugandans started insinuating that we had issues with Equity Bank, most probably some individuals in-there. But we have a `PHD` in how some Ugandans can mysteriously take issues. To this end, even Equity Bank management dragged us before UCC over some stories `against` them. We submitted ours to the same.
Today, Ugandans woke to more ugly news about this same Bank. It is wrapped in a dossier written and submitted via social media, by a respectable veteran sports journalist, Aldrine Nsubuga who, was approached by a victimized Equity Bank customer, Rose Ahebwa. Below, is slightly edited version of Nsubuga Snr`s post. Read on.
The Dossier
Rose Ahebwa walks in my office with red eyes and a ghastly look. In tow is her brother, a one Emma. Their world has sunk under their feet. They are here only because they have nowhere else to go. They have reached the end of the line.
One and a half months ago, they were celebrating as a family but now, the family is about to be split over UGX47M that Equity Bank stole on 18th December, 2022. When Rose received a customer service call a few days after opening an account with Equity Bank, where she deposited the money in 2nd week of December, she innocently answered all their questions.
All seemed okay. A few days later, she was looking into an empty account. She had gone to make a withdraw. The entire UGX47M had gone! “Sorry mum, you only have 27,000/= on your account” a teller told her. In an instant, her world turned to rubble. This wasn’t her money. It was family money.
The bigger shock however was how the bank, from teller to manager, to a top boss – all avoided to answer her question of; “where did my money go?” She reported the case to police on 19/12/22 [vide Case Ref: SD 44/19/12/2022], a day after the money was stolen but this was against the bank’s advice as they had promised to ‘resolve this internally.’ What has happened since she reported the case is every bank customer nightmare.
At Equity Bank, every manager she has been referred to has been evasive. It’s as though they all fear someone at the top will find out who helped her! Rose never registered for internet banking. Armed with bank statements and other documents which clearly back up her case, she begged for my help.
“I need a voice Aldrine. Please echo my pain. The money is for the family.” Equity Bank’s manner has been ice cold. Sadistic, even. From top, everyone knows that it is an inside job. The attitude from the chain of command towards Rose has revealed a darker secret within the bank – the big people know. They are complicit. If a customer has not withdrawn money, who has access to their account? The bank.
In Kenya, Equity Bank is one of the biggest, if not the best bank. Not only have they won numerous awards in the industry but they are reputed for their excellence at customer service. Here in Uganda; the numerous cases at central police against Equity Bank, many of which have gone unresolved, project a grim picture. The cartel inside has ensured that customers never get justice. No one will know about it.
Rose has nowhere else to go as blocks have been put at every possible help desk at Equity. Her example is only a tip of an iceberg. As she shed tears Infront of me, I wondered just what I can do to help. She has engaged a lawyer and Police but who is she? The bank doesn’t care because they know the case will run cold.
UGX47M family savings gone, with a husband demanding an explanation every day for the last one and a half months. This must be hell for any wife. A family is breaking. The thieves at Equity Bank are laughing scornfully. Rose Ahebwa’s case is water tight. No third parties. UGX47M was deposited to open the account and [the same] disappeared after two weeks. Just like that.
We all have bank accounts. It could be any one of us in her position. Should we let Equity Bank continue to act arrogantly and fail to refund Rose Ahebwa’s money? I say no. Let’s save a lady’s marriage. If this happened at Equity Bank Kenya, Rose would have had her money back by now.
If you know any one at Equity Bank, tag them. Tag management. Let them know that we are at them. Ugandans have lately learned how to fight for their rights. And if you have an account with Equity Bank, the writing is on the wall. Your money is not safe. People, let’s help the lady – it’s Shs47M we are talking about. Family savings.
Author Profile
- Mr. Jacko David Waluluka is another unique entertainment and general investigative news writer, a field he has diligently covered for over fifteen years. He’s also the Chief Administrator at The Investigator. He can easily be reached via [email protected]
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Thanks for shedding the theft in Equity bank a shinning colour for everyone to see .
Am working in the Middle East recently I brought my sister and she left a bank account in that fake Bank after the younger girl getting her first salary she decided to deposit 600k through through Airtel money which was received by the bank and the message came from Equity bank confirming the deposit
But after like 8 day while the girl is at her work a notification came from Equity bank thanking her to withdraw 500k a transaction she never made. She sent an email since she is abroad no response at all.
Where to report Equity Bank??????
For Prof my email is . [email protected]
Equity Bank Kenya customers are also experiencing the same. It’s a problem for all customers, not Ugandan ones only.
Those guys are thieves.
I also lost my money with equity bank with such internal weaknesses in theirs banks controls or insider thieves.
My Visa Card got lost I went to their branch Andro replaced it with all the necessary documentation provided. But unfortunately those guys never stop the lost card in system instead issued me with another one and kept the old one functioning. So one morning I went to their ATM to withdraw and I found nothing my 4.3m got lost like that which I had saved for ages . I went and reported my case and never got help .
I went a head and registered my case with bank of Uganda director commercial banking the regulator and they summoned them and their response was like they don’t have any control on VISA transactions. I kept on following them saying they are following it up until I failed to provide my self transport to keep on following my case since 2017.
Equity is my household name, l have been a member for more than ten years. I have grown leaps and bounds with them. I am not denying there could be issues. Kindly solve the issues, without maligning the good standing of the good bank. Some of us only depend on Equity for our financial solutions.
The cases happen even here in Kenya but the bank has always responded by telling its customers to avoid receiving and following call instructions of people who purport to be Equity Bank employees. And for the case of lack of response from the Equity Bank hierarchy, the issue is out of their mandate. It’s a police henceforth since they cannot track and trace people who received the money. The customer okayed the withdrawal of their family’s money by receiving a call from a stranger who introduced themselves as being Equity representatives and probably gave away the family’s secret account information – ATM card numbers, PINs, passwords… The only fault of the bank could failure to educate and inform their customers to aware of scammers who are becoming smarter everyday. But I do not think this is the case since everyone in Kenya has been educated by the bank and accept calls from one Equity Bank’s customer care number (0763 000 000). This is the number for Kenya. I’m not sure if it is consistent with the one used in UG. And most if the time, even if the unique Equity Bank customer care number calls, one is not advised to surrender their secret information or personal details such as PINs,…
This is also happening in kenya
For more information go to Twitter and search for kimuzi or search ( in telegram) for edgar obare BNN
Please let me stay anonymous
My dad also fell victim of the ills in the bank a retired man with over 70 years was loaned over Kshs 147,000 by the same bank in 15 minutes .
Thanks aldrine.
Am customer with an account in equity bank Uganda. I have had a problem with equity bank from last year 18th/11/2022 the Bank liened our company account and we where not contacted we have done all it takes to follow up with the management and have not gotten any help emails have exchanged and no positive feedback.
Am not surprised that the same has happened to that lady let’s pray for her.
We are currently pressing Equity Bank Kenya for the same misdemeanor. These cases are rampant. Stay firm, we’re pressing them on Twitter even after they served a whistleblower with a cease and decease order.
Saa hii ndo mnajua?? Too late basi?? What about family Bank?? Bado mko behind news or ignorant.
They listed me wrongly
I really don’t think that’s true
Here in Kenya we are facing the Same issue.
With no solution to where money has gone.
Now forced to abandon the bank to avoid depression.
Equity bank not just in Uganda even here in Kenya the problem never get solved it is like they have a dark department which is a “con customers” department…..99% of equity customers has lost money from their account in one way or another knows about it or some not yet aware of it….but it has become a den of thieves I lost some money in 2013 moi avenue branch when my ATM declined to dispense cash and indicated error network ,I waited but money wasn’t there for 10minutes and I had to pick my atm card and go later I found the money was missing from my account and I tried to follow up even with lobby attendance but they were not helpful I remember he even asked me for ksh 500 if I needed his help…I wrote letters to operations manager,branch manager and they were all ignored and I didn’t have a choice but to move my money to another bank……I have no trust with equity bank ever….
Personally I lost money at equity bank. It was all the savings I had plus salary for that month. It all went down the drain just like that. It took me 8 months to recover my money they said it was a process to recover it. I was told I used it in UK I told them I even don’t have a visa n I have never been outside Kenya. If u have savings do it with a different bank not equity. They will rob you in broad daylight and there is nothing you will do about it. It’s always an inside job no outsider can access your account. It’s their cashiers and ITs who do that. I have been through the same and I know.
Not only in Uganda, even in Kenya equity bank accounts are being used for stealing from innocent people.
Aldrine you are much of energy trying to advocate for someone who acted out of ignorance. There’s no case here to be won both legally and conscious wise.
The issue here is the Customer receiving a call from a stranger and goes ahead to give his personal information.
Ones you do that, it doesn’t matter which bank you belong to, your money will be stolen..
At this point , the bank cannot help you
Equity bank is the worst and they treat customers badly. Don’t bank with equity, save your money.
Equity bank has now became a problem,,,, I can’t access my account through mobile banking and when I try to make transactions, they tells me that I have insufficient funds to make transactions yet am sure I have my money on the account. In short I can’t send money they claim that I don’t have any coin. I need a clarification on that. This is my email [email protected]
The same problem with me it was appen today
But this only happens with equity and not ncba or absa. So there is inside job.
Thanks Your treatment for me
when we describe the word equity bank in short term is a group of thieves, in 2017 same issue happened to my sister.