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The short answer
To receive money from abroad into Access Bank, give the sender your full account name, account number and Access Bank's SWIFT code, ABNGNGLA (ABNGNGLAXXX in 11-character form), which the bank's own blog says is its only SWIFT code. Whether you receive naira or foreign currency depends on the account it lands in: a domiciliary account is needed to keep dollars, pounds or euros, and money-transfer apps usually pay out in naira unless they offer otherwise.
Money reaches an Access Bank account from abroad in two main ways: a bank wire over SWIFT, or a payout from a licensed money-transfer operator (an IMTO such as a remittance app). Each has different details, costs and currency outcomes. Getting the details right matters because a single wrong character can send a wire back after days, minus fees on both sides.
Details a sender abroad needs for a SWIFT wire
| Detail | What to give |
|---|---|
| Beneficiary name | Your name exactly as it appears on the Access Bank account |
| Account number | Your 10-digit Access Bank account number (a domiciliary account number if you want to keep the foreign currency) |
| Bank name | Access Bank Plc |
| SWIFT/BIC | ABNGNGLA, or ABNGNGLAXXX where 11 characters are required |
| Bank address | Ask the bank; the head office listed on its site is 14/15 Prince Alaba Abiodun, Oniru Road, Victoria Island, Lagos |
| Intermediary bank | Only if the sender's bank asks; get it from Access Bank for your currency, never from a third-party list |
Access Bank's blog post on SWIFT codes, dated 7 March 2023, gives the code as ABNGNGLA and says the bank has just this one code, so senders do not need a branch-specific version. Nigeria does not use IBANs, so if a form insists on one, the sender should use the account number field instead. Our explainer on IBAN, sort code and SWIFT covers what each field does, and Access Bank SWIFT code and sort code covers the local bank code.
Naira or dollars: what decides the credit
The currency you end up with depends on where the money lands, not only on what the sender pays.
- Into a domiciliary account in the same currency: the foreign currency stays as it is. You can then hold it, transfer it or convert it.
- Into a naira account: the incoming foreign currency has to be converted, at a rate set by the bank on the day. Ask the bank before relying on this route, because some banks return foreign wires sent to naira accounts rather than convert them.
- Through a remittance app: the app decides the payout options. Many pay naira straight into your account at the app's own rate; some offer cash pickup or foreign-currency payout. Check the app's rate and fee before the sender pays.
If you expect regular foreign income, opening an Access Bank domiciliary account avoids forced conversion. Fees on incoming wires are not published on a Nigerian Access Bank page we could open; the tariff document linked from the bank's site is for Access Bank Ghana and is priced in cedis. Ask the bank for the current inward-transfer charge, and remember the sender's bank and any intermediary bank may deduct their own fees before the money arrives.
Worked example: what arrives
Example only, with made-up numbers. A relative in London sends the equivalent of $500 by SWIFT. Their bank charges them a sending fee separately. An intermediary bank deducts $20 in transit, and the receiving bank deducts a $10 handling charge. You receive $500 − $20 − $10 = $470 in your domiciliary account. If the same money had gone into a naira account, it would be converted at the bank's rate on the day, which you only see after the credit. For live figures, check the bank's own rate; never assume a rate quoted on social media.
Remittance apps and IMTO payouts
Most money sent home by family abroad does not travel as a SWIFT wire. It goes through an international money transfer operator: the sender pays the operator in their own currency, and the operator pays you from its Nigerian settlement arrangements. For you, the details needed are usually just your account name, account number and bank, and the credit often arrives as an ordinary naira transfer. Three points are worth knowing:
- The operator sets the exchange rate and its own fee; compare the amount you will receive in naira, not the headline fee.
- Only use operators licensed to pay out in Nigeria. You can check how to confirm a licence in our guide to checking a CBN licence.
- The name the sender types must match your account name. A mismatch is a common reason for a payout being held or returned.
If the operator offers a dollar payout to a domiciliary account, the sender may need your domiciliary account number and the SWIFT code as above. Ask the operator which details it wants before the sender pays.
Before the sender pays: what to check
- Confirm your account name matches your ID and BVN exactly, including middle names.
- Decide whether you want the money held in foreign currency; if so, give a domiciliary account number.
- Ask Access Bank for the correct intermediary details for USD, GBP or EUR if the sender's bank requests them.
- Ask the sender to put a short, factual payment reference, such as 'family support' or 'school fees', to avoid compliance holds.
- Keep the sender's transfer confirmation (with the reference) in case you need to trace a delay.
If a wire is late or returned, our guide to delayed or returned foreign transfers lists the common causes. Never pay a 'release fee' to anyone who calls about money from abroad; banks do not collect fees that way.
Where Pryme fits
A Pryme account holds NGN, USD, GBP and EUR, each with local account details, so a sender abroad can often pay you on a local rail in their own currency rather than by SWIFT. The money stays in the currency it arrived in, and Swap converts only when you choose, showing the rate first and the fee on its own line. See multicurrency accounts.
Questions people ask
What is Access Bank's SWIFT code for receiving money from abroad?
ABNGNGLA, or ABNGNGLAXXX in 11-character form. Access Bank's blog says this is its only SWIFT code, so no branch code is needed.
Can I receive dollars into my Access Bank naira account?
Ask the bank first. Foreign currency sent to a naira account must be converted at the bank's rate, and some banks return such wires. To keep dollars, use a domiciliary account.
How long does an international transfer to Access Bank take?
Timing varies with the sender's bank, any intermediary bank and compliance checks. Access Bank does not publish a fixed time on the pages we checked, so ask the sender for the transfer reference in case it needs tracing.
Do I need an IBAN to receive money in Access Bank?
No. Nigerian banks do not use IBANs. The sender should enter your 10-digit account number with the SWIFT code ABNGNGLA.
Sources
- Access Bank blog: What is a SWIFT code in banking? (7 Mar 2023) · accessed Oct 2026
- Access Bank: Dormant Accounts · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.