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The short answer
An AIB international payment to Nigeria is usually rejected because information is missing or in the wrong field, and returned when the Nigerian bank cannot apply it to the account, often because the name, account number or currency does not match. AIB's FAQ warns that a returned payment can come back smaller after foreign bank charges and exchange-rate losses, so correct the details with the recipient's bank before resending.
A payment that bounces costs twice: once in charges and once in the days lost while family wait. AIB's own international payments FAQ, viewed in October 2026, explains most of what goes wrong, and the Nigerian side adds a few causes of its own.
Rejected or Returned: what AIB means
- Rejected
- AIB says a payment "could be rejected if information is missing or entered into the wrong place by the sender". It has not left AIB in a usable form.
- Returned
- The receiving bank "cannot apply the funds to the receiver's account" and sends them back.
- Complete
- Shown in My Payment Logs, but AIB notes it does not confirm the receiver has been credited.
You can see the status in Internet Banking under Transfers and Payments, then My Payment Logs, where payments show as Pending, Processing, Complete, Rejected or Returned.
Common causes on payments to Nigeria
Beneficiary details
- Name mismatch. The receiver's name must match the Nigerian account exactly. A nickname, a missing middle name or a business account paid in a person's name can cause a return.
- Account number. Nigerian accounts use a 10-digit NUBAN. A digit short, an extra space or an old account number fails. Nigeria does not use IBANs; AIB says to use the IBAN "where available", so enter the account number in the account field.
- BIC or bank address. AIB asks for "either the BIC or the full name and address of the foreign bank branch". A wrong or outdated BIC, or a bank that has merged, routes the payment to the wrong place.
- Receiver's address missing. AIB asks for the name and address of the receiver. Leaving it blank or putting it in the wrong field is a classic reject.
Currency and routing
- Currency the account cannot take. If you send euro or dollars to a naira-only account, the Nigerian bank may convert it or send it back. Ask the bank how it handles your currency before you send.
- Intermediary banks. AIB uses about 1,800 intermediary banks; they normally deduct their charges, which AIB says it cannot indicate in advance. A payment that arrives short has not bounced, but it may not settle an invoice in full.
Compliance checks
- No payment reason. AIB asks you to put the reason, such as an invoice number or a description, in the additional information area. A vague or empty reference can lead to questions from an intermediary or the Nigerian bank.
- Screening. Banks in the chain routinely screen names against sanctions lists, and a close name match can hold or return a payment until it is cleared.
- Daily limit. AIB caps personal Internet Banking international payments at €10,000 in aggregate per business day. A payment above your remaining limit will not go.
What a bounce costs
AIB's FAQ warns that incorrect information may lead to a return "for a lesser amount due to foreign bank fees and charges and/or exchange rate losses". Internet Banking payments go on a shared (SHA) basis: you pay AIB's charge and other banks may deduct theirs.
Worked example
Example only. You send €1,000 to a Lagos account. An intermediary deducts €20 and the Nigerian bank returns the payment because the name did not match. If the money was converted on the way out and back, a small rate movement could take another €15. You might receive €965 back, before any AIB charge for the return. The figures are illustrative; the actual charges show on your statement.
Before you resend
- Ask the recipient to send a screenshot from their bank app showing the account name and 10-digit number.
- Get the bank's correct BIC for international payments from the bank itself, not a third-party list.
- Confirm the currency the account can receive.
- Add the receiver's full address and a clear payment reason.
- For anything urgent, call AIB on 0818 724 724 (or +353 1 771 2424 from abroad) to ask why the payment came back.
Once accepted, AIB says an international payment "is irrevocable"; it will try to recall a payment but cannot guarantee it. That is why checking details first matters more than the fix afterwards.
Where Pryme fits
A Pryme account opened from Ireland holds euro and naira in one account and can send to Nigerian banks, with the rate and the fee shown before you approve. For the SWIFT side, see AIB SWIFT transfers to Nigeria and SWIFT details for Nigerian banks.
Questions people ask
Why was my AIB payment to Nigeria rejected?
AIB says rejections usually come from missing information or details in the wrong field. Check the receiver's name, address, account number and BIC.
Will I get all my money back if an AIB payment is returned?
Not always. AIB warns returns can be smaller after foreign bank charges and exchange-rate losses.
Can AIB cancel an international payment?
AIB says accepted international payments are irrevocable; it can try a recall but cannot guarantee it.
Does a Nigerian account have an IBAN?
No. Use the 10-digit account number and the bank's BIC or full branch name and address.
Sources
- AIB: International Payments FAQs (viewed Oct 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- GTBank: MoneyGram money transfer service (viewed Oct 2026) · 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.