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The short answer
Most Nigerian banks update your address through internet banking or a customer information update form, backed by valid ID and a proof of address dated within the last three months. Stanbic IBTC, for example, asks for valid ID and a utility bill showing the new address; GTBank lets you change address through internet banking or a branch. If you now live abroad most of the year, the bank may also move you to its diaspora or non-resident service, which has its own documents.
When you move to the UK your Nigerian bank still holds your Lagos or Abuja address. That matters more than it looks: banks use your address for know-your-customer records, statements and card delivery, and a mismatch can hold up a reactivation, a limit increase or a foreign transfer. Updating it from the UK is usually a form and two documents. This guide sets out what banks publish, how to get UK documents into a shape they accept, and when an address update turns into a change of account type.
Where to make the change
| Bank | Published route | Documents |
|---|---|---|
| Stanbic IBTC | Quick Services (online self-service) | Valid ID plus a utility bill not more than three months old showing the new address |
| GTBank | Internet Banking or branch for email, address and name changes | As requested by the bank; NRN service lists its own proof-of-address options (below) |
| Access Bank | Account management request form (also used for phone and email updates) | ID; diaspora customers: passport plus visa or notarised residence permit; utility bill within three months |
Pages read in October 2026. Other banks publish a customer information update form on their download pages; the documents are similar. If your bank offers an online update, use it: it is faster than posting originals and leaves a record.
Proof of a UK address that Nigerian banks accept
A Nigerian bank cannot check a UK utility company, so it relies on documents being certified. GTBank's NRN page gives the clearest list of what it accepts as proof of a foreign address:
- a stamped reference or banker's confirmation from your overseas bank; or
- a notarised utility bill or stamped bank statement dated within three months.
In the UK that means asking your UK bank for a stamped statement or a banker's reference, or having a recent utility bill notarised by a solicitor or notary public. If you are unsure whether a document will pass, email a scan to the bank first and ask; it costs less than a rejected postal pack. Keep the date within three months: an older bill is the common reason an update is rejected.
Address versus BVN details
Your bank account address and your BVN record are separate. NIBSS says updates to BVN customer information are done physically at bank branches, so changing your account address online does not change what sits on your BVN. For most people the BVN address does not need to change; the name, date of birth and phone number on it matter more, because banks compare them during checks.
When an address update becomes a diaspora account
Some banks treat people living abroad as a separate customer group. GTBank's NRN service is for Nigerians living outside Nigeria for more than 180 days a year, with its own form, self-certification and references. Access Bank's diaspora service targets people abroad for more than 180 days a year. If you tell your bank you now live in the UK, it may ask you to complete these forms rather than simply editing the address. That is worth doing: diaspora desks are set up to deal by email and post.
Tax residence questions
Banks increasingly ask for a tax identification number and tax residence. Under Nigeria's 2025 tax law, as summarised by PwC (reviewed 29 May 2026), you are Nigerian tax resident if any of several tests is met, including a permanent home available in Nigeria or 183 days or more of presence in a 12-month period. Moving your address abroad does not by itself settle your tax status. This is information, not advice.
Steps
- Check your bank's update route: internet banking, online self-service or a downloadable form.
- Get a UK proof of address dated within three months, certified as the bank requires.
- Have valid ID ready: Nigerian passport, or your foreign passport with your UK visa or residence permit if the bank asks for it.
- Submit, and ask for written confirmation that the record has changed.
- Update your phone number at the same time if it has changed; see getting OTPs on a UK number.
- Make a small transaction afterwards to confirm the account still works; see keeping the account active.
Where Pryme fits
A Pryme account is opened and updated in the app from any country, and holds naira alongside pounds, dollars and euros with local account details for each. If you need to show a Nigerian bank or anyone else a statement, the app can produce a verifiable statement that the recipient can check is genuine and unaltered. See receipts and statements and how Pryme works.
Questions people ask
Can I change my Nigerian bank address online from the UK?
Often, yes. GTBank allows address changes through internet banking and Stanbic IBTC through Quick Services. Others use a customer information update form sent with certified documents.
What proof of UK address will a Nigerian bank accept?
GTBank lists a stamped overseas bank reference, or a notarised utility bill or stamped bank statement dated within three months. Check your bank's own list.
Do I need to update my BVN address too?
Not usually. NIBSS says BVN information updates are done at bank branches, and the account address is a separate record.
Will my bank change my account to a diaspora account?
It may. GTBank's NRN service and Access Bank's diaspora banking are aimed at people living abroad more than 180 days a year and have their own forms.
Sources
- Stanbic IBTC: Frequently asked questions, account update · accessed Oct 2026
- GTBank Help Centre: Complaints and enquiries · accessed Oct 2026
- GTBank: NRN Services · accessed Oct 2026
- Access Bank: Account Management Request Form · accessed Oct 2026
- NIBSS: Bank Verification Number (BVN) · accessed Oct 2026
- PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries: Nigeria, individual residence (reviewed 29 May 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.