24 Years old Auto Trader wins 24million in Diamond bank savings promo

When Kelechi Ikechukwu Kalu, an auto-parts trader at the popular Ladipo Market in Mushin, Lagos got a phone call that he has won a princely sum of N24 million from Diamond Bank Plc, his first reaction was to regard the call as a bait from a fraud, and in a stern voice packed with all the force of his small frame, he had told the man on the phone to look elsewhere as he wasn’t the get rich quick type.

When the caller was persistent however, he confided in Matthew, a friend, whose shop was next door and upon persuasion from the latter, had gone to the Ladipo branch of the bank to confirm what the ‘mysterious’ caller who introduced himself simply as Nonso, had told him. There, it was confirmed to him that his fortunes had indeed changed, as he has won the salary-for-life, in the January 2013 draw of the Diamond SavingsXtra reward scheme, now in its fifth season.

In that category, which is the highest haul, Kalu would on a monthly basis receive a N100,000 salary from the bank for 20 years.

Kalu could not believe his luck. Yet he took the news with a pinch of salt and could hardly join in the wild jubilation with which his friend Matthew received the news.

Such was his shock at the sudden transformation of his status that he came to the bank in his greasy work cloth. Only his bosom friend escorted him.

Asked how he felt after receiving his cheque from the bank last Friday, Kalu said, “I am happy. I couldn’t believe it when I received the news, I am speechless, I thank God and I thank Diamond Bank.”

Kalu becomes the second trader in the market to win the highest jackpot. The first was Mr. Sunday Omili, who has been receiving N100,000 salary from the bank since August last year.

Kalu was not the only customer whose status changed on Friday, 8 February 2013. The Ladipo branch of the bank also had another winner, Mr. Chinedu Venatus Ibekame, an auto spare parts trader at the market who won N250,000 in the weekly draws category.

The Business Manager of the Ladipo Branch, Mr. Nonso Anyaegbuna who was the official that notified Kalu of his good fortune described the SavingsXtra account as a unique account for individuals wishing to build up their savings.

He said, “It is an interest-yielding savings account which allows the deposit of both cash and other banks’ cheques. In addition, SavingsXtra account holders get a debit card and a cheque book, which can be used to withdraw from their accounts at any Diamond branch. It is a simple and straightforward savings account that comes with a low minimum opening and operating amount of N5, 000 with free access to all electronic banking channels.”

“SavingsXtra account owners, also have access to a secured credit card called the SavingsXtra Visa Credit Card, which allows them access to a credit limit of up to 75 per cent of the funds in their account without dipping into valuable savings, hence granting them the privilege of qualifying for the weekly and monthly draws.”

Presenting the winners their dummy cheques the SavingsXtra Product Manager, Mr. David Otukpe, said the product was launched to encourage a savings culture and reward customers for their loyalty.

Since the rewards scheme commenced in July 2008, he said, over 1,000 Nigerians have been rewarded with cash prizes valued at over N2 billion, adding that the draws are held weekly (every Friday), monthly (every last Friday of the month) and to mark special occasions as determined by the bank. Every Friday, five customers win N500, 000 each, while 15 customers win N250, 000 each in the weekly draw.

Otukpe said in the monthly draws, 10 customers win N1 million each, another wins N2 million and a third customer wins the star prize of Salary-4-Life.

“The Salary-4-Life is a unique feature of the SavingsXtra account in which Diamond Bank pays the sum of N100, 000 into the customer’s account every month for the next 20 years. The draws are conducted through an electronic process approved by the National Lottery & Regulatory Commission and the Consumer Protection Council. These draws are also verified by the renowned auditing firm -KPMG Professional Services. Every N5, 000 deposited by customers increase their chances of winning in the draws as the winning tickets are chosen by random selection through an electronic draw process.

“To enjoy the benefits of the reward scheme, new and existing SavingsXtra account holders only need to have a minimum of N5, 000 in their account. Every N5, 000 deposited by the customers increases their chances of winning in the draws as the winning tickets are chosen by random selection through an electronic draw process,” Otukpe added.

He therefore urged customers to save more and increase their chances of winning, adding that customers have the chance of winning the over N600 million that is up for grabs this season.

Earlier, Otukpe had led a delegation of the bank to the Mushin Road, Isolo Branch of the bank, where they presented a cheque of N1 million to a year two student of Petroleum and Gas Engineering of the University of Lagos, Anthony Ikechukwu Makwe, who emerged winner in the January 2013 monthly draw of the SavingsXtra reward scheme in the bank