Claim
A Facebook post by Ada Stingola claims that Access Bank has issued a circular announcing that it will shut down its operations beginning September 26, 2026.
The claim has also been shared by other Facebook users, including Benjamin Essien, and has gained traction on the platform. At the time of verification, one of the posts had attracted 112 likes, 173 comments and 9 shares, raising concerns among members of the public, a situation that could cause mass withdrawal from the bank.
Why We Checked
Claims about the closure of a major financial institution can cause unnecessary panic among customers and may undermine public confidence in the banking system. Given the level of engagement the posts received, Haltfake verified the authenticity of the claim.
Verification
As part of the verification process, we reviewed Access Bank’s official and verified Facebook page for any announcement regarding the alleged shutdown.
No official statement or circular announcing the closure of the bank was found.
Instead, in the comments section of one of the bank’s recent posts, a Facebook user Kings Jnr alerted Access Bank to the circulating rumour. In response, an administrator managing the bank’s verified Facebook account stated that the claim was not true and informed users that the bank’s communications team was working on an official statement to debunk the false information.
Furthermore, there has been no announcement from Access Bank, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), or any other relevant regulatory authority indicating that Access Bank intends to cease operations on September 26, 2026.
Also, iIf a commercial bank in Nigeria were to suspend or discontinue operations, such a significant development would be formally communicated through official regulatory channels and widely reported by credible news organisations.
Our search of reputable news outlets also found no credible reports supporting the claim that Access Bank planned a shutdown.
Verdict
FALSE.
The claim that Access Bank has issued a circular announcing that it will shut down operations from September 26, 2026 is false.
Access Bank has publicly dismissed the rumour through its verified Facebook page, and there is no official announcement from the bank or any Nigerian financial regulatory body to support the claim.
Conclusion
Members of the public are advised to verify information about banks and other financial institutions through official channels before sharing it online. False claims about the banking sector can spread quickly and may create unnecessary fear among customers.
