Oceanic Bank International has said that customers of the bank can now access Ecobank’s Rapid Transfer product that provides fast, convenient and reliable way to transfer money across Africa and within Nigeria. The bank, in a statement on Friday, said rapid transfer was an instant money transfer product offered at all branches of Ecobank in 29 African countries and available locally at all Ecobank Nigeria and Oceanic Bank branches. The Managing Director, Oceanic Bank, Mr. John Aboh, said following the successful acquisition of the bank by Ecobank Transnational Incorporated and the planned integration of services of both institutions, rapid transfer was now available in all the bank’s branches, the same way it was accessible in all Ecobank Nigeria branches. He urged Nigerian businessmen, parents, students, faith-based organisations and others engaged in cross border transfers of funds to use the product, adding that such transfers could be made in the form of cash to cash; cash to account; account to cash; account to account; and cash pull. He said, “As we move quickly to integrate operations of both banks, many more new services will be available to our customers, such as using ATMs without charges at both banks. “Rapid transfer payments can be made to and from all branches of Ecobank in countries throughout Africa. Funds are available within five minutes and paid in the local currencies of the countries involved. “The service is available to both customers and non-customers in all countries, except where remittance laws differ.” He pointed out that apart from eliminating the risk of carrying cash across borders, there was no need for users of this product to source for foreign currencies before transfers were made within the enlarged Ecobank network in Africa. Ecobank Nigeria recently announced the inauguration of a rapid transfer product in all 30 African countries where Ecobank was represented. A statement by the bank said that the product was available to both customers and non-customers of the bank, adding that it facilitated easy transfer and access to funds across the country as well as enabling money transfers to and from any of Ecobank’s branches.