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The short answer
For a transfer from Italy, a Nigerian bank needs the account holder's name exactly as on its records, the 10-digit NUBAN account number, the bank's name and, for a bank wire, its SWIFT/BIC code and the correspondent bank details it gives for that currency. Nigeria does not use IBANs. Send euros only to a euro domiciliary account; remittance apps pay in naira into a naira account.
The fields, one by one
- Account name
- The holder's name as the bank has it. GTBank asks for the name "as captured" on its system.
- Account number (NUBAN)
- Ten digits, unique within each bank, under the CBN's uniform account number standard.
- Bank name
- The full legal name of the bank, for example Guaranty Trust Bank.
- SWIFT/BIC
- Eight or eleven characters; XXX at the end means head office. Needed for a bank wire, not for most apps.
- Correspondent bank
- The bank abroad where the Nigerian bank holds its euro or dollar account, with the account number. Needed for some bank wires.
- Currency account
- Naira account for naira; a domiciliary account in the matching currency for euros.
- Purpose
- A short description such as family support; Nigerian banks need it for individual inflows.
No IBAN, and why that confuses Italian forms
Italian banking apps are built around the IBAN. Nigeria identifies accounts by the 10-digit NUBAN instead; Swift's IBAN page explains that the IBAN registry covers countries that follow the ISO 13616 standard, and Nigeria is not mentioned there. When your bank's form asks for an IBAN for a Nigerian account, look for an option such as "account number" or "non-IBAN country" and enter the NUBAN with the SWIFT code. Do not invent an IBAN by adding letters to the front of the NUBAN. Our guide to whether Nigeria uses IBANs or sort codes has more.
The NUBAN has a check digit, so a mistyped number will often be rejected rather than land in someone else's account, but not always. The Nigeria library explains the NUBAN check digit if you want to understand why.
Bank wire or app: different fields
| Field | Bank wire (bonifico estero) | Remittance app |
|---|---|---|
| Recipient name | Yes | Yes, as on the bank statement |
| 10-digit NUBAN | Yes | Yes |
| Bank name | Yes | Chosen from a list |
| SWIFT code | Yes | Usually not |
| Correspondent bank | Sometimes | No |
| Purpose | Yes | Often |
| Currency paid | Euros to a euro account, if the bank accepts | Naira only |
MoneyGram's developer documentation for Nigeria is a useful example of what an app needs: the receiver's first and last name "as on bank statement", the 10-digit NUBAN, the bank from a list, and the purpose of the transaction. Apps convert to naira because a CBN circular effective 1 May 2026 requires money transfer operators to pay Nigerian recipients only in naira (Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie summary).
Correspondent banks for euro wires
When you wire euros, your bank in Italy may need to know which bank in Europe holds the Nigerian bank's euro account. GTBank's inflow page says it gives these details in its "disposal instructions" rather than on the page itself. Ask the recipient to get the current euro instructions from their bank's branch or app; they change, and an out-of-date correspondent can delay or bounce the transfer. See correspondent bank details for a Nigerian domiciliary account.
Getting the name right
Names are where most transfers to Nigeria go wrong. Remitly's glossary says banks "verify that the name matches exactly, or very closely", and that wrong details can mean a delay, a return or, in some cases, payment to the wrong person. Ask the recipient to send a screenshot of the account name from their banking app, not to type it from memory, and copy it in the same order. Middle names and initials matter less than the spelling of surname and first name; see a transfer rejected for a name mismatch.
Example message to the recipient
Example only. "Please send me a screenshot from your bank app showing your account name and number. If you want euros, also send the bank's euro transfer instructions for your domiciliary account, including the correspondent bank." Asking for both at once saves a second round of messages.
Microfinance banks and other institutions
The 10-digit NUBAN is not only for commercial banks. BusinessDay's report on the CBN's revised standard says it covers microfinance banks, primary mortgage banks, finance companies and development finance institutions, with full compliance due by 15 March 2021. These institutions use a five-digit institution code starting with 9 behind the scenes, but the customer still sees a ten-digit account number. Not every such institution can receive a SWIFT wire directly, so for a microfinance bank account an app that pays naira is usually the simpler route; see sending to a Nigerian microfinance bank.
Account limits also matter. A low-tier account may cap how much it can receive, and an account without a linked BVN or NIN can be restricted. If a payout fails for no obvious reason, ask the recipient whether their account has a restriction before you resend.
Where Pryme fits
A Pryme account comes with its own naira account number and separate euro details, which the app shows in full, so a sender abroad copies them rather than retyping them. Conversions show the rate and the fee before you approve.
Questions people ask
Does Nigeria use IBAN?
No. Nigerian accounts use the 10-digit NUBAN. On an Italian bank form, choose the non-IBAN option and enter the NUBAN with the SWIFT code.
What is GTBank's SWIFT code?
GTBank's inflow page gives GTBINGLA; Wise's directory lists GTBINGLAXXX for the head office.
Can I send euros to a naira account?
A bank may convert or reject it. Send euros to a euro domiciliary account, or use an app that pays naira.
Do I need the correspondent bank for a transfer to Nigeria?
Sometimes for a bank wire. Ask the recipient's bank for its current euro instructions.
Sources
- GTBank: Foreign currency inward transfer (FX inflow) · accessed Oct 2026
- BusinessDay: CBN extends uniform account number to OFIs (2020) · accessed Oct 2026
- Swift: IBAN standard · accessed Oct 2026
- MoneyGram Developer: Direct send options for Nigeria · accessed Oct 2026
- Remitly financial glossary: Recipient · accessed Oct 2026
- Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie: The CBN's new directive to IMTOs (Mar 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.