Four major Nigerian banks have engaged in a social media battle, throwing banters at each other on their Twitter handles. Those involved in the battle of wits are Sterling Bank, Access Bank, First Bank and Union Bank.
The fight started when Sterling Bank tweeted a picture of its new marketing collateral. The picture depicted different individuals, one on a horse, another on an elephant, another who looked to be walking in the opposite direction and one in an enclosure.
Shoot for the moon, become a star – it’s the least you deserve. Welcome to #SterlingBank 😊 pic.twitter.com/Jt7M5AkSSb
— Sterling Bank Plc (@Sterling_Bankng) July 20, 2018
Another look at the picture suggested the bank had poked subtle fun at First Bank’s elephant logo, Union Bank’s horse logo, Guaranty Trust Bank’s orange square logo and Access Bank’s logo.
The jab did not go unnoticed as the banks, except Guaranty Trust Bank, responded, each with varying degrees of savagery.
Union Bank took the first shot pointing out to Sterling Bank that the ‘customer’ on its rocket enroute the ‘moon’ had no spacesuit.
Heading to the moon without a spacesuit…journey mercies🚶🏾♂️🚶🏾♂️#simplersmarterSAFERbanking
— UNION BANK (@UNIONBANK_NG) July 21, 2018
The bank also told its competitor and ‘drawer of the first blood’ to keep quiet when elders speak.
When the elders speak… #SimplerSmarterSAFERBank pic.twitter.com/xCgYbcniDm
— UNION BANK (@UNIONBANK_NG) July 21, 2018
Access Bank was next to take aim at the bank saying: ”We will travel on an imaginary rocket too, if we were a one-customer Microfinance Bank; but with ten million customers and counting, we rather bring the galaxy to you!”
We will travel on an imaginary rocket too, if we were a one-customer Microfinance Bank; but with ten million customers and counting, we rather bring the galaxy to you! #YouAreWorthIt #TakeTomorrow #KnowYourElders pic.twitter.com/pBGuW8JaLo
— Access Bank Plc (@myaccessbank) July 21, 2018
First Bank took the final shot reminding Sterling Bank of an African proverb which states: ”What an elder sees while sitting, a child cannot see even if he travels to the moon”.
What an elder sees while sitting, a child cannot see even if he travels to the moon. #RespectYourElders #YouFirst
— FirstBank Nigeria (@FirstBankngr) July 21, 2018
It also tweeted a video of a cartoon depicting a failed rocket launch which ended up in a trash can.
… And straight into the trash can. #RespectYourElders #MoveOver #NextPlease #YouFirst pic.twitter.com/tkyZe9FVgc
— FirstBank Nigeria (@FirstBankngr) July 21, 2018
GTB was still missing in action at the time of publishing this post
