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The short answer
Call Access Bank on 07003000000 (24 hours) or email ContactCenter@accessbankplc.com as soon as you notice a wrong transfer, with the session ID, amount, date and the account you paid. The bank can ask the recipient's bank to recall the money, but it cannot take funds out of someone else's account without that person's consent or a legal order, so speed matters more than anything else.
A wrong transfer usually happens in one of three ways: a mistyped account number that belongs to a real person, a correct number at the wrong bank, or a payment sent twice. The fix is the same in each case, but how quickly you act decides whether the money is still there to recover.
Why a bank cannot simply reverse it
Interbank transfers in Nigeria move over instant rails and settle into the recipient's account within seconds. Once the money is credited, it belongs to the account holder in the bank's books. Access Bank cannot debit that account; only the recipient's bank can place a hold, and even then it needs the account holder's agreement or a court or regulator's order to return the funds. That is why the process is called a recall or a dispute, not a reversal.
If the transfer failed and you were debited but nobody was credited, that is a different problem; see Access Bank failed transaction disputes.
Steps in the first hour
- Take a screenshot of the transaction receipt showing the session ID, amount, date, time and beneficiary name.
- Call the Access Bank contact centre on 07003000000 or 0201 280 2500 and say you want to log a wrong-transfer recall. Ask for a complaint reference number.
- Follow up in writing to ContactCenter@accessbankplc.com with the receipt, your account number and the reference, so there is a dated record.
- If you know the recipient's bank, call that bank too and ask it to place a hold while your bank's request arrives.
- If the name on the receipt is a person you can reach, contact them politely and ask them to return it; many do.
Access Bank publishes its contact numbers on its dormant-accounts and USSD help pages; check its customer care contacts for other channels.
What the bank will ask you to sign
Banks commonly ask the sender for a signed indemnity, a letter in which you confirm the transfer was a mistake and agree to hold the bank harmless if the recall causes a dispute. Access Bank does not publish a template on the pages we checked, so ask the contact centre or branch for its version. The recipient's bank then contacts its customer. If the customer agrees, the money comes back. If they refuse or have already spent it, the banks cannot force the return without a legal process.
Realistic timelines
| Stage | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Complaint logged | A reference number on the day. The CBN complaint guide says institutions should acknowledge within three days. |
| Recipient bank contacted | Depends on how fast your bank sends the recall; ask for confirmation it has been sent. |
| Recipient agrees | Funds can return the same day or within days. |
| Recipient refuses or cannot be reached | No time frame; the matter may need the police, a lawyer or a court order. |
| Escalation to CBN | The CBN guide says allow two weeks for the bank to resolve it before escalating to cpd@cbn.gov.ng. |
These are the stages the CBN guide describes, not promises. Our guide to complaining about a bank in Nigeria explains how to write the escalation.
If the recipient refuses
Keeping money you know was sent to you in error can expose the recipient to civil claims and, in some cases, a criminal complaint. That is information, not legal advice; for a large amount, speak to a lawyer. Practical options include a written demand, a police report, and, where the amount fits, a small claims or civil action. Keep every message, receipt and reference number.
Special cases
Paid twice to the right person
A duplicate payment to a supplier, landlord or relative is the easiest to fix: contact them directly and ask for a refund of the second payment, then keep their confirmation. Log it with the bank only if they do not respond.
Sent to a wallet or fintech account
If the recipient's account is at a microfinance bank or a payment app rather than a commercial bank, the process is the same: Access Bank sends the recall to that institution, which contacts its customer. Give Access Bank the institution's name exactly as it appeared on your receipt.
Sent by USSD
A USSD transfer is still an ordinary interbank transfer. The receipt is the SMS from Access Bank, so keep it. If you also think your phone or PIN has been misused, block the account immediately by dialling *901*911#, which Access Bank says works from any phone with your USSD PIN.
Preventing the next one
- Always wait for the name lookup and read the full beneficiary name before you confirm.
- Save regular beneficiaries rather than typing numbers each time.
- Send a small test amount before a large first payment.
- Check the bank selected matches the bank the recipient gave you.
Where Pryme fits
Pryme's Send shows the recipient's name before you approve, and the Personal Assistant (default name Eva) can prepare a payment for you to check, but nothing moves until you approve it. See Personal Assistant.
Questions people ask
Can Access Bank reverse money I sent to the wrong account?
Access Bank can request a recall from the recipient's bank, but it cannot debit another person's account. The money comes back if the recipient agrees or a legal order is obtained.
How long does a wrong transfer reversal take in Access Bank?
There is no fixed time. If the recipient agrees quickly it can be the same day or within days. The CBN guide says allow two weeks for the bank to resolve a complaint before escalating.
What is the Access Bank customer care number for a wrong transfer?
07003000000 (24 hours) or 0201 280 2500, and email ContactCenter@accessbankplc.com, as listed on Access Bank's help pages.
What if the person refuses to return my money?
Ask the bank for written confirmation of the refusal, then consider a police report and legal action. Keep the receipt and complaint reference.
Sources
- Access Bank: USSD Banking frequently asked questions · accessed Oct 2026
- Access Bank: Dormant Accounts · accessed Oct 2026
- CBN: How to Lodge a Complaint (24 Jan 2022) · 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.