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
It depends on how long the account has been idle. An account that is only inactive (GTBank's word for six months without a transaction you started) usually wakes up with any transfer you make yourself. A dormant account needs a reactivation request with ID and proof of address, which GTBank accepts by email from non-resident customers; after ten years untouched, the balance moves to the CBN and you reclaim it through the bank with an affidavit.
Many Nigerians in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Perth keep a salary or savings account at home and stop using it once the Australian account takes over. A year or two later, a transfer from family bounces, the app refuses to log in, or a bank message says the account is restricted. The fix is usually simple, but it depends on which stage the account has reached and on your own bank's rules, because each bank sets its own short-term dormancy periods.
The three stages of an idle account
| Stage | What the bank's pages say | What it usually takes |
|---|---|---|
| Inactive | GTBank: no customer-initiated transaction for 6 months | Any transaction you start: app transfer, USSD, deposit or withdrawal |
| Dormant | GTBank: 1 year. Zenith: current accounts after 6 months; Zenith says savings accounts do not go dormant | A reactivation form or letter, valid ID and recent proof of address |
| Unclaimed balance | Under CBN guidelines issued 19 July 2024, balances inactive for 10 years or more are transferred to the CBN | Asset Reclaim Form, evidence of ownership, ID, proof of residence and an affidavit, through the bank |
Two points follow. First, credits from other people do not usually count: the test on GTBank's page is a transaction the customer initiates. A relative paying money in from Lagos does not keep your account alive. Second, the stages are bank-specific. Check your own bank's page, or the bank guides in our Nigeria library such as dormant accounts and unclaimed balances in Nigeria.
Reactivating from Australia: what banks ask for
GTBank publishes the clearest non-resident route. For an individual dormant account it asks for a reactivation form, a utility bill from the last three months and a valid ID (international passport, driver's licence, voter's card or national ID) at any branch. For non-resident Nigerian customers it lists a signed form, a notarised utility bill or a stamped bank statement covering three months, and a valid Nigerian ID or a notarised foreign ID with an expired Nigerian ID, sent to the dedicated email address on the page. GTBank says there is no charge for reactivation.
Access Bank's Account Management Request Form has a Dormant Reactivation section asking for the reason, ID, a utility bill and a compliance form. Fidelity's homepage lists its personal account e-service portal as also used for dormant reactivation. Other banks may still insist on a branch visit or a relative acting under a mandate; ask before you post anything.
Proof of address from Australia
An Australian electricity, gas or internet bill in your own name is the usual choice. A notary in Australia can certify it if the bank asks for a notarised copy. If you have no bill in your name, a stamped Australian bank statement may be accepted; GTBank's non-resident list allows it. Our guide to certifying copies of documents in Australia explains what a JP can and cannot do.
The BVN and NIN checks
Reactivation is also the moment the bank checks that your record is clean. Expect it to match the name and date of birth on your BVN against your ID, and to ask for your NIN if it is not already linked. If the spelling on your passport differs from your BVN, fix that first or the request can stall: see correcting your BVN details from Australia. If you never had a BVN, a dormant account is unlikely, but a new one starts with BVN enrolment from Australia.
Is a branch visit required?
- Inactive accounts: no. Log in to the app or dial the bank's USSD code from your registered line and make a small transfer.
- Dormant accounts at banks with a non-resident email route (GTBank lists one): no, if your documents are accepted.
- Dormant accounts elsewhere: often yes, or a trusted person with your written authority, depending on the bank.
- Balances already transferred to the CBN: the Asset Reclaim Form goes in through a branch of the bank. FirstBank says it verifies the claim and sends it to the CBN within 10 working days, and the CBN refunds through the bank within another 10 working days.
If a reclaim needs an affidavit, ask the bank before you swear one which version it accepts: one sworn before a notary public in Australia, or one sworn at the Nigerian High Commission in Canberra. Banks differ, and a rejected affidavit costs you another round of posting.
Fees and how long it takes
The CBN's Guide to Charges (effective 1 January 2020) lists reactivation of a dormant account as free, and GTBank's page says the same. Turnaround is not published by most banks. GTBank's unclaimed balances page says unresolved complaints can be escalated to the CBN's consumer protection department after 15 working days. Keep every email and reference number.
Steps
- Try the app or USSD first; if a transfer goes through, the account was only inactive.
- If not, call or email the bank and ask which stage the account is at.
- Gather ID, a recent Australian bill or statement and your BVN, notarised if asked.
- Send the bank's own form, not a letter you drafted, through its listed channel.
- Once active, set a reminder to make a small transfer of your own every few months.
Where Pryme fits
If you want a naira account you can run from Australia without worrying about branch rules, a Pryme Personal Account opens from any country and holds naira alongside dollars, pounds and euros in one multicurrency account, with sign-in protected by an authenticator app (security). Naira deposits are held by a licensed Nigerian microfinance bank, regulated by the CBN and insured by the NDIC up to the applicable limit, and outside Nigeria Pryme's activities are carried out through regulated partners. Whether you keep the old account is your choice; our piece on closing or keeping a Nigerian account weighs it up.
Questions people ask
Can I reactivate my dormant GTBank account from Australia?
GTBank's reactivation page lists a non-resident route: a signed form, a notarised utility bill or stamped three-month statement and valid ID, sent by email. It says reactivation is free.
Does money sent by my family stop my account going dormant?
Usually not. GTBank's test is a transaction you initiate yourself, such as a transfer from your app. Make a small one every few months.
What happens after ten years without activity?
Under the CBN's July 2024 guidelines the balance is transferred to the CBN. You reclaim it through the bank with an Asset Reclaim Form, ID, proof of residence and an affidavit.
Do Nigerian banks charge to reactivate a dormant account?
The CBN Guide to Charges lists dormant account reactivation as free. Notary and courier costs in Australia are yours.
Sources
- GTBank: Account reactivation · accessed Oct 2026
- GTBank: Guidelines for managing dormant accounts, unclaimed balances and other financial assets (CBN guidelines of 19 July 2024) · accessed Oct 2026
- FirstBank: Dormant account · accessed Oct 2026
- Zenith Bank: Customer service FAQs · accessed Oct 2026
- Access Bank: Account Management Request Form · accessed Oct 2026
- CBN: Guide to Charges by Banks, Other Financial and Non-Financial Institutions (effective 1 January 2020) · 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.