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The short answer
Rand Merchant Bank Nigeria's head-office SWIFT code is FIRNNGLAXXX (FIRNNGLA in its 8-character form), and the Wise SWIFT directory also lists FIRNNGLARMS for the same bank in Victoria Island, Lagos (checked October 2026). Ask RMB which code it wants on incoming payments, and give the sender your exact account name, account number and the bank's full name as well.
A SWIFT code, also called a BIC, tells the international banking network which bank, and sometimes which office, should receive a payment. It does not identify your account. For Rand Merchant Bank Nigeria, the code starts with FIRN rather than RMB, which confuses people. The letters come from FirstRand, the South African group that owns RMB, and do not mean you have the wrong bank.
The codes and what they mean
The Wise SWIFT directory lists two codes for Rand Merchant Bank Nigeria Limited, both on Ozumba Mbadiwe Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.
| Code | Type | What the directory shows |
|---|---|---|
| FIRNNGLAXXX | Head office (11 characters) | Rand Merchant Bank Nigeria Limited, 17A Ozumba Mbadiwe Street, Victoria Island, 101241 |
| FIRNNGLA | Same code, 8-character form | The XXX ending is dropped; banks treat it as the head office |
| FIRNNGLARMS | Office code RMS (11 characters) | Rand Merchant Bank Nigeria Limited, 17A Ozumba Mbadiwe, Lagos, 101241 |
- FIRN
- Bank code, from FirstRand
- NG
- Country code for Nigeria
- LA
- Location code for Lagos
- XXX or RMS
- Branch or office code; XXX means head office
The directory notes that not every office has its own code and that the head-office code can usually be used. Because two codes exist, the safest step is to ask RMB, or your relationship manager, which one it wants on inbound transfers to your account and to use exactly that.
What a sender abroad needs
A sender's bank will normally ask for the following. Missing or mismatched details are the commonest reason an international payment is delayed or returned.
- Beneficiary name exactly as it appears on the RMB account.
- Beneficiary account number at RMB Nigeria.
- Bank name: Rand Merchant Bank Nigeria Limited.
- SWIFT/BIC: the code RMB confirms for your account, FIRNNGLAXXX or FIRNNGLARMS.
- Bank address, if the form asks: use the one RMB gives you (see the note below).
- Currency of the payment and the purpose of payment, which Nigerian banks often need for foreign-exchange records.
- Any intermediary or correspondent bank RMB specifies for that currency. Only RMB can give you this; do not copy one from a forum.
Fees and timing
RMB does not publish an inbound SWIFT charge on the pages we could read, and the sender's bank and any intermediary bank may each take a fee before the money lands. The sender usually chooses who pays: OUR (sender pays all), SHA (shared) or BEN (beneficiary pays). If you need an exact amount to arrive, ask the sender to use OUR and ask RMB what it deducts on receipt. Our explainer on SWIFT versus local payment rails shows why a SWIFT transfer often costs more and takes longer than a local transfer.
If a payment to RMB has not arrived
International payments pass through one or more correspondent banks, and a delay usually sits with one of them rather than with the receiving bank. Work through it in this order:
- Ask the sender for proof of payment from their bank showing the date, amount, currency, beneficiary name, account number and the SWIFT code used.
- Check the code on that proof against the one RMB gave you. A wrong or outdated code is a common cause of returns.
- Ask the sender's bank for the payment's tracking reference. Banks on SWIFT gpi can see where the payment is sitting.
- Send RMB the proof and the tracking reference and ask whether the funds have reached it or are held for compliance checks, such as a request for the purpose of payment.
- If the money was sent with the wrong details, only the sending bank can recall it; the receiving bank cannot redirect it on your instruction alone.
Sending naira, not foreign currency
A SWIFT code is for cross-border payments. If someone inside Nigeria is paying you in naira, they need your account number and the bank as it appears in their bank's list, not a SWIFT code. The difference between these identifiers is in our guide to IBAN, sort code, routing number and SWIFT.
Where Pryme fits
If you are a freelancer or small business being paid from abroad, a Pryme account gives you local account details for USD, GBP and EUR as well as NGN, so a payer in the UK, US or eurozone can often send a local transfer rather than a SWIFT payment. Money stays in the currency it arrived in until you choose to Swap it. Outside Nigeria, these services are provided through regulated partners.
Before you share the code
- Confirm the code with RMB, not only with a directory.
- Check your account name spelling against an RMB statement.
- Never share your PIN, password or token code with a payer; they do not need it.
- Keep the sender's SWIFT reference (often called the MT103 or UETR) in case you need a trace. Our RMB Nigeria contacts guide lists where to send a trace request.
Questions people ask
What is the SWIFT code of Rand Merchant Bank Nigeria?
The head-office code is FIRNNGLAXXX, or FIRNNGLA in 8-character form. The Wise directory also lists FIRNNGLARMS. Ask RMB which one it wants for your account.
Why does the RMB Nigeria SWIFT code start with FIRN?
The bank code comes from FirstRand, RMB's parent group. It is still Rand Merchant Bank Nigeria Limited.
Can I use FIRNNGLA instead of FIRNNGLAXXX?
Yes, the 8-character form and the XXX form both point to the head office. Use whichever the sending bank's form accepts, after confirming with RMB.
Does RMB Nigeria have a sort code for local transfers?
For naira transfers within Nigeria the payer selects the bank in their app and enters your account number. A SWIFT code is only for international payments.
Sources
- Wise: SWIFT code FIRNNGLARMS, Rand Merchant Bank Nigeria Limited · accessed Oct 2026
- NDIC: Insured Banks directory (Merchant Banks) · accessed Oct 2026
- RMB Nigeria website (footer and banking network) · 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.