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The short answer
Yes, Nationwide members can send money to Nigeria as a SWIFT payment from a Nationwide current account, in the internet bank or in a branch. Nationwide charges a £15 SWIFT transaction fee, except on FlexOne, FlexStudent and FlexGraduate accounts, and its standard outbound exchange rate includes a 2.2% currency conversion mark-up; it sets no upper limit on the amount and says payments outside the EEA take longer than four working days.
Can Nationwide send to Nigeria?
Nationwide offers two kinds of international payment: SEPA payments, for euros sent within the Single Euro Payments Area, and SWIFT payments for everything else. Nigeria is outside the SEPA zone, so a payment there goes by SWIFT. Three conditions from Nationwide's page:
- You must send from a current account; savings accounts cannot be used except in exceptional cases, such as after a bereavement.
- You can pay in the internet bank (Pay and transfer, then Make an international payment) or in a branch.
- There is no limit on how much you can send internationally.
In a branch you need your Nationwide current account card, a valid passport or full driving licence, and proof of address, along with the recipient's details.
What it costs
| Charge | Nationwide |
|---|---|
| SWIFT transaction fee | £15; none on FlexOne, FlexStudent or FlexGraduate |
| Currency conversion | Standard outbound exchange rate, which includes a 2.2% mark-up, updated through the day |
| Who converts | A third-party provider; Nationwide receives a share of the mark-up |
You need enough money for the fee as well as the payment: Nationwide's own example is that sending £100 requires at least £115 in the account. If you send in pounds, there is no Nationwide conversion and the 2.2% does not apply, but the Nigerian bank will convert at its own rate if the account is in naira.
Worked example
Example only. Ifeoma, on a FlexDirect account, sends a foreign-currency payment costing £500 before fees. The 2.2% mark-up is included in the rate; on £500 it comes to about £11 (£500 × 0.022 = £11.00; Nationwide's own example works slightly lower because the mark-up sits inside the rate). The £15 SWIFT fee is added, so £515 leaves her account and about £26 of the cost is fees and mark-up. On a FlexOne, FlexStudent or FlexGraduate account, the £15 would not apply.
Nationwide publishes a similar worked example for a $100 payment: £83.92 converted, including a mark-up of £1.81, plus the £15 fee, for £98.92 taken from the account.
What you need for a Nigerian account
- The recipient's full name and address
- Their account number (the 10-digit NUBAN)
- The name and address of the receiving bank
- The receiving bank's BIC (SWIFT code)
- The currency and amount
Nationwide warns that if information is missing the payment may be rejected, and because of exchange rates and charges you may get back less than you sent. See the details a Nigerian bank needs and, if a payment is returned, why UK to Nigeria transfers are returned.
Pounds or naira?
Nationwide lets you send an international payment in foreign currency or in pounds sterling. The choice decides who converts:
- In foreign currency: Nationwide's third-party provider converts at the standard outbound rate, with the 2.2% mark-up, and the internet bank quotes the rate in the form so you know the amount being sent.
- In pounds: no Nationwide mark-up, but if the recipient's account is in naira, the Nigerian bank converts at its own rate, which you will not see in advance.
- In pounds to a GBP domiciliary account: nothing is converted on either side until the recipient decides. See sending pounds to a Nigerian domiciliary account.
Whichever you choose, the £15 fee applies on accounts that carry it.
How long it takes
For payments outside the EEA, Nationwide says the payment will take longer than four working days, depending on the country and bank. It does not give a Nigeria-specific estimate. If timing matters, for school fees or a hospital bill, allow a week or use a route that shows an arrival estimate upfront. Some app routes pay naira locally through Nigeria's instant payment network instead of SWIFT; Monzo, for example, says most of its naira payments arrive within seconds.
Receiving money from Nigeria into Nationwide
If family in Nigeria pay you, give them Nationwide's BIC, NAIAGB21, the intermediary bank BIC MIDLGB22 (HSBC), your IBAN, account number, sort code, full name and full address. Only current accounts can receive SWIFT payments. Incoming foreign currency is converted to pounds at Nationwide's standard inbound rate.
Where Pryme fits
Nationwide sends one payment at a time by SWIFT. If you would rather keep a naira balance for family costs and pay from it when needed, a Pryme account opened from the UK holds pounds and naira with local details for each; Swap shows the rate and the fee before you approve. Naira deposits are held by a licensed Nigerian microfinance bank; outside Nigeria, Pryme works through regulated partners. See how it works.
Questions people ask
Can I send money to Nigeria from Nationwide?
Yes, as a SWIFT payment from a Nationwide current account, in the internet bank or in a branch.
How much does Nationwide charge for a payment to Nigeria?
A £15 SWIFT fee on most current accounts (none on FlexOne, FlexStudent or FlexGraduate), plus a 2.2% mark-up in the exchange rate if converted.
Is there a limit on Nationwide international payments?
Nationwide says there is no limit to how much you can send internationally.
What is Nationwide's SWIFT code?
Nationwide's BIC is NAIAGB21, with HSBC (MIDLGB22) as intermediary bank for incoming payments.
Sources
- Nationwide: How to send and receive international payments · accessed Oct 2026
- Monzo Help: Sending Nigerian Naira (NGN) payments · 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.