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The short answer
Fidelity Bank's FAQ says individual naira cards are not permitted for international transactions on any channel, as mandated by the CBN. For spending abroad it offers a dollar card with a $5,000 limit (ATM $1,000, POS and web $5,000), a 2% charge on dollar-to-dollar transactions and 3% on dollar to other currencies, plus ₦1,075 issuance and $10 yearly maintenance, as at October 2026.
Can you use a Fidelity naira card abroad?
On the bank's own FAQ, checked in October 2026, the answer is no. Under the question about international limits on an individual naira card, Fidelity writes that "Individual Naira Cards are not permitted for international transactions across all channels as mandated by CBN". It gives the same answer for corporate naira cards.
The same FAQ elsewhere lists naira card limits of eight ATM withdrawals a day up to ₦150,000, and 15 POS or web payments a day up to ₦1,000,000, each "or its equivalent in any currency if the transaction is done abroad". The two answers do not sit well together. Treat the specific international answer as the current position, and if you plan to rely on a naira card abroad, ask True Serve to confirm before you travel. Card control in online banking lets you see whether international use is enabled on your card.
The exceptions Fidelity lists
- Virtual card
- Free, created on mobile or web, ₦200,000 daily limit; works internationally up to $100 a month.
- Visa Signature card
- For high-net-worth customers; denominated in naira and dollars; local ATM ₦150,000 and POS ₦3,000,000; international transaction limit given as "$100 or its equivalent".
A $100 monthly cap covers a small subscription, not a trip or tuition payment.
The Fidelity dollar card
Fidelity lists a Mastercard USD Debit Card among the instant debit cards issued at its branches. It is linked to a dollar (domiciliary) account, so spending comes out of dollars you already hold rather than converting naira at the point of sale. You need a Fidelity domiciliary account first; see Fidelity domiciliary account and SWIFT code.
| Item | Fidelity's figure (as at Oct 2026) |
|---|---|
| Issuance | ₦1,075 including VAT, debited from your naira account |
| Maintenance | $10 a year |
| Overall international limit | $5,000 |
| ATM withdrawals | $1,000 |
| POS and web | $5,000 |
| Dollar-to-dollar transactions | 2% charge |
| Dollar to other currencies | 3% charge |
| ATM owner charges | May apply on top |
The FAQ does not say whether the $5,000 limit is daily or monthly. Ask before planning a large payment such as school fees. For those, a transfer from the domiciliary account is often more suitable than a card.
Worked example: what a trip costs in card charges
Example only, using the percentages in Fidelity's FAQ. You spend $400 on a hotel in the United States and £150 in a shop in London, both on the Fidelity dollar card.
| Payment | Amount in dollars | Charge rate | Charge | Total from your dollar account |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US hotel (dollar to dollar) | $400.00 | 2% | $8.00 | $408.00 |
| London shop (dollar to pounds) | Say $190.00 after the scheme's conversion | 3% | $5.70 | $195.70 |
| Total | $590.00 | $13.70 | $603.70 |
The dollar value of the £150 depends on the card scheme's exchange rate on the day, so $190 is an assumption for the example. An ATM withdrawal abroad adds any fee the ATM owner charges.
Watch out for dynamic currency conversion
When a foreign shop or ATM offers to charge you "in naira" or in dollars instead of the local currency, that is dynamic currency conversion (DCC): the merchant converts at its own rate. Fidelity's FAQ says it applies a mark-up on DCC transactions and lists it as 35% of the transaction amount for Mastercard NGN/USD and Visa NGN. It advises cardholders to ask merchants to charge in the local currency of the country. Always pick the local currency on the terminal screen.
When a card is the wrong tool
Cards suit everyday spending abroad: meals, transport, a hotel deposit. For large one-off payments, a transfer from the domiciliary account is usually better, because it is not limited by card caps and does not attract the 2% or 3% card charges in the FAQ, though the bank's own transfer fees and correspondent charges apply instead. Fidelity's corporate FAQ notes that international wire transfers are not instant, as the CBN process requires manual handling by its international operations team, so allow time before a deadline such as a tuition date.
Getting the card and keeping it safe
- Open or confirm your Fidelity domiciliary account in dollars.
- Request the Mastercard USD Debit Card at a branch; Fidelity lists it as an instant card.
- Fund the dollar account by inward transfer or deposit.
- Before travel, check international use is enabled in card control and save True Serve's abroad number, 0908 798 9069.
- If the card is lost abroad, block it with *770*911# from your registered phone or call True Serve; see how to block a Fidelity card.
For diaspora customers, Fidelity's diaspora FAQ says ATM withdrawals in your country of residence are paid in the local currency there, and cards can be couriered to you or collected by a proxy.
Where Pryme fits
A Pryme account holds US dollars, pounds and euros alongside naira, each with its own local account details, and converts only when you use Swap and approve the rate and fee shown; see multicurrency accounts and domiciliary vs multicurrency.
Questions people ask
Can I use my Fidelity naira card abroad?
Fidelity's FAQ says individual naira cards are not permitted for international transactions on any channel, as mandated by the CBN. Confirm with True Serve before travelling.
What is the Fidelity dollar card limit?
$5,000 overall, with ATM withdrawals up to $1,000 and POS or web up to $5,000. The FAQ does not say whether this is daily or monthly.
How much is the Fidelity dollar card?
Issuance is ₦1,075 including VAT, debited from your naira account, and maintenance is $10 a year, as at October 2026.
Does the Fidelity virtual card work for international payments?
Yes, up to $100 a month, according to Fidelity's FAQ. It is free and created on the app or web.
Sources
- Fidelity Bank: Frequently Asked Questions (Account Opening, E-Channels, Cards, Diaspora, SME) · accessed Oct 2026
- Fidelity Bank: Diaspora Banking · accessed Oct 2026
- Fidelity Bank: Contact Us (True Serve) · 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.