AI agents for business finance: what they can and can't do
What AI agents can do in bookkeeping, close, collections and compliance today, where a person must stay in charge, and how to judge a product.
The short answer
Yes. Make a transaction you start yourself, such as an app transfer or bill payment, at least every few months, and keep your phone number, BVN link and ID current. GTBank treats an account as inactive after six months without a customer-initiated transaction and dormant after one year; Zenith and Fidelity say current accounts go dormant after six months. Balances untouched for ten years or more move to the CBN but can be reclaimed.
When you settle in the US, the Nigerian account often goes quiet. Rent and salary are in dollars, family send money through apps, and months pass without a login. Then you need to pay a deposit in Lagos and the account will not let you. Most of that is avoidable with a small routine.
How an account goes quiet
Nigerian banks apply CBN guidelines on dormant accounts and unclaimed balances, issued on 19 July 2024. TheCable's explainer says dormancy is typically one year for current accounts and two years for savings, but banks publish their own periods:
| Bank | What its own page says |
|---|---|
| GTBank | Inactive after 6 months with no customer-initiated transaction; dormant after 1 year |
| Zenith Bank | Current accounts dormant after 6 months of inactivity; savings accounts do not go dormant |
| Fidelity Bank | Current accounts dormant after 6 months of inactivity |
| FirstBank | Accounts inactive for 10 years or more are transferred to the CBN as unclaimed balances |
The point to notice is 'customer-initiated'. Money arriving from someone else may not count. The activity needs to come from you.
A routine that works from the US
- Every two or three months, make a small transfer you start yourself: to a family member, between your own accounts, or to pay a bill such as airtime or electricity for someone at home.
- Keep the bank app working on your current phone, and note when its login or token needs renewing.
- Keep your Nigerian SIM alive if the bank sends codes to it: MTN's Keep My Number service lets a prepaid number be kept while you are abroad or inactive for more than 180 days (N3,500 for a year, per its page); other networks run similar services.
- Update your ID and address when they change, so the bank does not restrict the account at its next review.
- Set a calendar reminder. It is the simplest step and the one that is most often skipped.
If a phone number change is the problem, see using a US phone number with your Nigerian bank; for addresses, updating your US address.
If someone at home helps you, do not share your login, PIN or token. Pay their bills from your own app instead, or set up a proper mandate with the bank if they need authority on the account.
If it has already gone dormant
Reactivation usually needs documents and sometimes a branch. GTBank lists a reactivation form, a utility bill within three months and valid ID (international passport, driver's licence, voter's card or National ID) at any branch. Some banks will process this through a relative with a mandate or the bank's diaspora desk; ask yours. The Nigeria-side detail is in dormant accounts and unclaimed balances and reactivating a GTBank account.
Signs the account is already restricted
- A transfer fails with a message about account status, rather than insufficient funds.
- The app logs in but will not let you send money, or asks you to visit a branch.
- You receive a message asking you to update your BVN, NIN or ID.
- Debit card payments are declined even though there is money in the account.
Any of these means it is time to contact the bank before the account slips from inactive to dormant. Ask exactly what is needed, and whether it can be done by email, through a diaspora desk or by a relative with a mandate. Keep the email trail; it helps if the request is passed between departments.
What usually counts as activity
Transfers you send, bill payments, card purchases and cash withdrawals are customer-initiated. Inbound transfers, interest credits and bank charges usually are not. When in doubt, a small outgoing payment from the app is the safest choice.
After ten years: unclaimed balances
Under the CBN guidelines, balances left untouched for ten years or more are moved to a CBN-managed fund. They are not lost. FirstBank's page describes the reclaim process: evidence of ownership, valid ID, proof of current residence and an affidavit, through an Asset Reclaim Form; the bank verifies and sends to the CBN within ten working days, and the CBN refunds through the bank within ten working days.
Should you keep it at all?
An active Nigerian account is useful if you pay for things in Nigeria, receive naira, or plan to return. If none of that applies, closing it may be simpler: see closing a Nigerian bank account from the US. Either way, remember that a Nigerian account counts toward the FBAR threshold of US$10,000 in aggregate (IRS).
Where Pryme fits
A Pryme account works from an app with an authenticator app for security instead of SMS codes, so a lapsed Nigerian SIM does not lock you out (security). The Personal Assistant Agent, Eva by default, can set reminders for regular payments; nothing moves without your approval (assistant).
Questions people ask
How long before a Nigerian bank account becomes dormant?
It depends on the bank. GTBank: inactive at 6 months, dormant at 1 year. Zenith and Fidelity: current accounts dormant after 6 months.
Does receiving money keep the account active?
Not reliably. Banks such as GTBank count customer-initiated transactions, so make a transfer or payment yourself.
Can I reactivate a dormant account from the US?
Often, with ID and proof of address. Some banks accept diaspora documents by email or through a diaspora desk; others need a branch visit.
What happens after 10 years?
The balance moves to a CBN-managed fund and can be reclaimed through your bank with ID, proof of ownership and an affidavit.
Sources
- GTBank: Account reactivation · accessed Oct 2026
- Zenith Bank: FAQs · accessed Oct 2026
- Fidelity Bank: FAQs · accessed Oct 2026
- TheCable: Understanding CBN guidelines on dormant accounts and unclaimed assets · accessed Oct 2026
- FirstBank: Dormant account · accessed Oct 2026
- MTN Nigeria: Keep My Number · 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.