AI agents for business finance: what they can and can't do
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The short answer
A Nigerian bank sort code is nine digits. For a commercial bank it is the bank's 3-digit CBN code, a 2-digit state code, a 3-digit branch code and a check digit; for other financial institutions such as microfinance banks it is 9, the 5-digit institution code, a 2-digit state code and a check digit. Your bank's branch, cheque book or help pages give yours.
The structure, from the CBN standard
The CBN's Revised Standards on Nigeria Uniform Bank Account Number (NUBAN), issued with circular PSM/DIR/CON/CWO/05/030 dated 9 March 2020, set out the format of sort codes alongside the account number rules.
| Institution type | Format | What each part means |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit money bank (commercial, merchant, non-interest) | ABC-DE-FGH-I | ABC = 3-digit CBN bank code; DE = state code; FGH = branch code; I = check digit |
| Other financial institution (microfinance bank, etc.) | A-BCDEF-GH-I | A = always 9; BCDEF = 5-digit institution code; GH = state code; I = check digit. No branch code |
Both formats give nine digits. A commercial bank's sort code identifies a specific branch; an OFI's sort code identifies the institution and state only. The standard refers to a check-digit method for sort codes but the text we read did not include it, so you cannot reliably compute a sort code yourself.
A real example
Kuda's own FAQ (13 July 2026) gives its sort code as 9-50211-15-1 and its bank code as 50211. That matches the OFI format: 9, then the 5-digit code 50211, then a 2-digit state code (15), then a check digit (1).
Sort code, bank code and NUBAN are different things
- Bank code (CBN or NIP code)
- Identifies the institution in electronic transfers. Commercial banks have 3-digit codes; OFIs have 5-digit codes. Within the NUBAN check-digit calculation, a 3-digit code is padded with zeros and a 5-digit code gets a leading 9, giving a 6-digit institution code.
- NUBAN
- Your 10-digit account number: a 9-digit serial plus a check digit, unique within your bank.
- Sort code
- Nine digits identifying the bank (and, for commercial banks, the state and branch). Used mostly with paper instruments and in forms that still ask for it.
For everyday transfers, apps ask for the bank name and the 10-digit account number, and name enquiry shows the account holder's name. You seldom need a sort code to send naira. For the check digit, see NUBAN and its check digit, and for bank codes, the NIP bank codes list.
Where you will be asked for a sort code
- Cheques and drafts, where the paying branch matters for clearing.
- Some payroll, pension, insurance and government forms that were designed before NUBAN transfers became universal.
- Some direct debit or standing order mandates.
- International senders who confuse Nigerian sort codes with UK sort codes. A UK sort code is a separate system used for payments within the UK; bank transfers from abroad into a Nigerian bank account use the bank's SWIFT code, not a Nigerian sort code. See IBAN, sort code, routing and SWIFT.
Where to find yours
- Look at your cheque book, if you have one; the branch details are printed on each leaf.
- Check the bank's help pages or app. Some banks publish a head-office sort code; others list sort codes by branch.
- Ask your branch or the contact centre for the sort code of the branch where the account is domiciled.
- For microfinance banks and other OFIs, one sort code per state may apply, because the OFI format has no branch code.
Worked example: reading a sort code
Example only, using the format above. A commercial bank sort code written as 123-45-678-9 would mean: bank code 123, state code 45, branch code 678, check digit 9. Those digits are illustrative and do not identify a real bank. If a form asks for a sort code and you only have the bank code, ask the bank for the branch's full nine-digit code rather than padding it yourself.
Why the state code matters
The two-digit state code sits in both formats. For a commercial bank, it narrows the branch to a state before the branch code picks the exact office. For a microfinance bank or other OFI, the state code is the most specific part, because the format has no branch code at all. That is why a microfinance bank operating in several states can have more than one sort code, while a small unit microfinance bank operating in one place may have only one. If you are filling a form for a microfinance bank account, ask for the code that matches the state where your account was opened.
Mergers and changed codes
When banks merge, branches close or are renamed, and some sort codes stop being used. If a payer's form rejects your sort code, the branch may have been merged into another. Ask the bank which branch now holds your account and its current code. For bank-specific details see our pages on the GTBank SWIFT and sort code and other banks.
Where Pryme fits
A Pryme account holds NGN, USD, GBP and EUR with local account details for each currency, so a payer in the UK uses UK-style details for pounds and a Nigerian payer uses your naira account number. See multicurrency accounts.
Questions people ask
How many digits is a Nigerian bank sort code?
Nine. For a commercial bank: 3-digit bank code, 2-digit state code, 3-digit branch code and a check digit. For an OFI such as a microfinance bank: 9, a 5-digit institution code, a 2-digit state code and a check digit.
Is a sort code the same as a bank code?
No. The bank code (3 digits for banks, 5 for OFIs) identifies the institution in transfers. The sort code adds the state, the branch (for banks) and a check digit.
Do I need a sort code to receive money from abroad?
Not usually. Bank transfers from abroad into a Nigerian bank account use the bank's SWIFT code. A UK sort code is a different system.
How do I find my bank's sort code?
Check your cheque book, the bank's help pages or app, or ask your branch for the code of the branch where your account is held.
Sources
- CBN circular PSM/DIR/CON/CWO/05/030: Revised Standards on NUBAN (9 Mar 2020), RegAlert text · accessed Oct 2026
- Kuda Help: FAQs (13 Jul 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.