Management of Vital Records in Financial Institutions: A Case of Selected Microfinance Banks in Enugu State

This study examines the management of vital records in microfinance banks in Enugu State, South East Nigeria, with particular attention to the identification, protection, and recovery planning for records deemed essential to organisational survival. Vital records encompass those documents whose loss would critically impair an institution's ability to function, meet obligations, or demonstrate rights and responsibilities. The research employs a professional application design, targeting records managers, compliance officers, and branch managers in twelve microfinance banks. Structured questionnaires and records audit checklists are the primary data collection instruments. The Vital Records Management Framework and relevant Central Bank of Nigeria guidelines provide the professional context, with academic literature from 2020 to 2024 supporting the analysis. The study examines vital records identification processes, security measures, off-site backup arrangements, and disaster recovery planning quality. It also assesses staff awareness of vital records obligations under regulatory frameworks. Findings are expected to reveal inadequate vital records protection in many institutions. Recommendations target microfinance bank boards, the Central Bank of Nigeria's microfinance supervision department, and the Institute of Records Management. Keywords: vital records management, microfinance banks, financial institutions, Enugu State, disaster recovery