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The short answer
Make at least one transaction you start yourself, such as a transfer, bill payment or airtime purchase, every few months. GTBank, for example, treats an account as inactive after six months without a customer-initiated transaction and dormant after a year, and Zenith and Fidelity say current accounts go dormant after six months. Accounts left untouched for ten years or more are transferred to the CBN's unclaimed balances scheme, though the money can still be reclaimed.
Many Nigerians in Italy keep a naira account at home for family, rent or a return one day, then stop using it. A year later a transfer fails or the app will not let them in. Usually the account has been flagged as inactive or dormant. This guide explains the rules Nigerian banks publish, what keeps an account active, and how reactivation works from abroad.
Inactive, dormant and unclaimed: the three stages
| Stage | What bank pages say | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Inactive | GTBank: no customer-initiated transaction for 6 months | Restored by your own transaction |
| Dormant | GTBank: 1 year; Zenith and Fidelity: current accounts after 6 months of inactivity | Restrictions until you reactivate with documents |
| Unclaimed balance | GTBank and FirstBank: inactive 10 years or more | Balance transferred to the CBN; reclaimable |
The periods differ by bank and by account type. Zenith's FAQs say its savings accounts do not go dormant, while current accounts do after six months. Check your own bank's page or ask customer service; do not assume the rule from another bank applies to yours.
What keeps an account active
The key word in the bank rules is customer-initiated. Credits you did not start, such as interest, bank charges or money a relative sends you, may not count. GTBank's reactivation page says an inactive account is restored by any transfer through mobile or internet banking or its USSD code, or by a cash or cheque deposit or withdrawal. From Italy, the practical options are:
- A small transfer from the account to another account you own, every two or three months.
- Buying airtime or paying a bill for family from the account.
- Paying a recurring cost, such as a service charge, from it.
- Logging in alone is not described as enough on the pages we read; make an actual transaction.
Also keep your identity records current. BusinessDay reported on 1 December 2023 that the CBN required Tier 2 and Tier 3 accounts to carry both a BVN and a NIN, with funded accounts lacking them placed on Post No Debit or Credit from March 2024. That is a separate restriction from dormancy, but from abroad it feels the same: money stuck. For the BVN side, see the Nigeria library's guide to the NRBVN for Nigerians abroad.
Plan for a long absence
If you know you will not touch the account for a while, set a recurring reminder every two or three months and make one small payment each time. Update the bank with your Italian address and an email it can reach, so letters about restrictions do not go to an empty flat in Surulere. If a relative helps you with errands at the branch, ask the bank what written mandate it accepts; never share your PIN or app login, which most banks treat as a breach of their terms.
Steps: reactivating a dormant account from Italy
Most banks expect a reactivation form, a recent utility bill and a valid ID, often at a branch. GTBank publishes a route for non-resident Nigerians:
- Complete and sign the reactivation form.
- Attach a notarised utility bill or a stamped bank statement from the last three months as proof of address (an Italian bill or statement can serve).
- Attach a valid Nigerian ID, or a notarised foreign ID with an expired Nigerian one.
- Email the documents to the address GTBank gives for non-resident accounts (nrnaccount@gtbank.com) and keep the reply.
- Once restored, make a transaction yourself within days so it does not slip back.
GTBank says there is no charge for reactivation, and the CBN's Guide to Charges (effective January 2020) lists reactivation of dormant accounts as waived. Notarising documents in Italy has its own cost, set by the notary. For the Italian side of notarisation and translation, see sworn translation in Italy.
If ten years have passed
Under the CBN guidelines GTBank cites (issued 19 July 2024), balances inactive for ten years or more are transferred to the CBN. FirstBank's dormant account page says you can reclaim by completing an Asset Reclaim Form with evidence of ownership, valid ID, proof of current residence and an affidavit; the bank verifies and sends the claim to the CBN within 10 working days, and the CBN refunds through the bank within a further 10 working days. GTBank says to escalate to the CBN's consumer protection department if a claim is unresolved after 15 working days. The full Nigeria-side rules are in dormant accounts and unclaimed balances.
What to check first
- Which bank and which account type: savings or current?
- When was your last transaction that you started yourself?
- Are your BVN and NIN both linked?
- Does the bank still have a phone number and email you can reach from Italy?
If phone access is the problem, read preventing a Nigerian account going dormant abroad alongside this guide.
Where Pryme fits
A Pryme account is used from the app wherever you live, with an authenticator app rather than SMS codes and a transaction PIN (security). Its naira is held by a licensed Nigerian microfinance bank, regulated by the CBN and insured by the NDIC up to the applicable limit. A Personal Assistant can remind you of bills and regular payments, and nothing moves without your approval (assistant).
Questions people ask
How long before a Nigerian bank account becomes dormant?
It varies. GTBank says inactive after 6 months and dormant after 1 year; Zenith and Fidelity say current accounts after 6 months. Check your bank.
Does money sent into my account keep it active?
Not necessarily. Bank rules refer to customer-initiated transactions, so make a transfer or payment yourself.
Can I reactivate my GTBank account from Italy?
GTBank publishes a non-resident route: signed form, notarised proof of address and ID, sent to nrnaccount@gtbank.com.
Is my money lost if the account is dormant for 10 years?
No. It is transferred to the CBN and can be reclaimed through your bank with proof of ownership, ID and an affidavit.
Sources
- GTBank: Account reactivation · accessed Oct 2026
- GTBank: Guidelines for managing dormant accounts, unclaimed balances and other financial assets · accessed Oct 2026
- FirstBank: Dormant account · accessed Oct 2026
- Zenith Bank: Customer service FAQs · accessed Oct 2026
- CBN: Guide to Charges by Banks, Other Financial and Non-Bank Financial Institutions (effective 1 Jan 2020) · accessed Oct 2026
- BusinessDay: CBN declares no transactions on accounts without BVN, NIN from March 2024 (1 Dec 2023) · 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.