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The short answer
Ria offers two payouts to Nigeria on its own pages: bank deposit (it names First Bank, Access, UBA and GTBank) and naira cash pickup at "over 4,000" Ria partner locations. For cash pickup the recipient shows a government-issued photo ID and the transfer PIN, and the name on the ID must match the transfer. Ria says card-funded transfers can arrive in as little as 15 minutes, while bank-funded ones take 3 to 5 business days.
Ria is one of the large agent-based money transfer companies, and in Nigeria it pays out through banks and partner locations. Ria appears on the Central Bank of Nigeria's list of licensed international money transfer operators as "RIA Financials". This guide sets out what Ria's own pages say about getting money to your recipient, as read in October 2026.
The two payout options
Bank deposit
Ria's US page for Nigeria names First Bank, Access, UBA and GTBank for bank deposits, and shows logos for Polaris, Keystone, Fidelity, FCMB and Ecobank too. Its Canada page lists the same core banks. The deposit is made in naira, which is also what the CBN now requires of licensed operators.
Before you send, get from your recipient:
- The account name exactly as the bank holds it.
- The bank, chosen from Ria's list.
- The 10-digit account number. Our guide to checking a NUBAN shows how to catch a wrong digit before you pay.
Cash pickup
Ria says your recipient can collect naira at over 4,000 Ria partner locations. To collect, they need a government-issued photo ID and the transfer PIN that Ria gives you, and the name on the ID must match the name you entered.
Cash pickup is now for small sums. TheCable's summary of the CBN's 2026 Foreign Exchange Manual reports that over-the-counter cash from inbound remittances is capped at the naira equivalent of $200, with anything above that credited to a bank account. See cash pickup rules in Nigeria.
How long Ria says it takes
| How you pay | What Ria's pages say |
|---|---|
| Debit or credit card | "As little as 15 minutes" (US page); "within minutes" (Canada page) |
| Bank account | 3 to 5 business days |
| Overall range | "A few minutes to five business days" (Canada page) |
The slower bank-funded time reflects the time it takes for your bank's payment to reach Ria, not the Nigerian leg. If speed matters more than cost, card funding is usually faster; check whether your card issuer treats the payment as a cash advance before you use a credit card.
Limits and checks
Ria's US help centre (updated 1 October 2026) states these sending limits for US customers:
- Cash-funded transfers: $495 per transaction.
- Non-cash transfers: $30,000 per 30 days.
- Online limits cannot be increased; for more, Ria says to visit a store with ID, an SSN and other paperwork.
The US Nigeria page's calculator accepts 1 to 14,999.99 USD per transfer; the Canada page accepts 1 to 4,999.99 CAD. Other countries have their own limits in the app.
Ria may hold a transfer for review. Its help article on releasing transfers (10 November 2023) says it may ask for photo ID, proof of source of funds (a bank statement if paid by bank, an image of the card if paid by card), a selfie, proof of address, the reason for sending and your relationship to the recipient, and that a transfer cannot be released without the information and may be cancelled if you do not respond in time. If your transfer is cancelled, see Ria transfer cancelled: getting a refund.
A worked example
Example only: you are in the US and want to send $600 for your father's rent. Paying with cash at a Ria store, you could send at most $495 in one transaction under Ria's stated limit. Paying online by card or bank, $600 is within the per-transaction range, and because it is above about $200 equivalent it should go to his bank account rather than cash pickup. The fee and naira amount are shown before you confirm; Ria's US page advertises a $0 fee on a first transfer with a promo code, and the rate still carries Ria's margin.
If the money has not arrived
Start with the status in the Ria app or on its website, using the PIN or order number. A transfer that is still under review has not left Ria, so your recipient's bank will see nothing; look in your email for a request for documents. If Ria shows the transfer as paid to a bank account but your recipient sees no credit, ask the recipient to check with the bank using the date, amount and your name, because Nigerian banks sometimes post remittance credits with a narration your recipient will not recognise. For cash pickup, confirm the partner location is open and that the recipient is carrying the ID whose name you used. For other next steps, see when the recipient's bank says no money arrived.
What to check first
- Bank deposit or cash? Above about $200 equivalent, choose a deposit.
- Names match: transfer name, ID name and bank account name.
- Funding: card for speed, bank for lower card risk, cash for small sums.
- Keep the PIN and order number; Ria lets you track with either.
Where Pryme fits
If your recipient has a Pryme account, you can send naira to it from your own Pryme account, with the rate and the fee shown before you approve. Pryme accounts can be opened from any country and hold naira, dollars, pounds and euros; see how it works.
Questions people ask
Which Nigerian banks does Ria pay into?
Ria's pages name First Bank, Access, UBA and GTBank, with logos for Polaris, Keystone, Fidelity, FCMB and Ecobank. Check the bank list in the app when you send.
What does my recipient need to collect Ria cash in Nigeria?
A government-issued photo ID and the transfer PIN, with the name on the ID matching the transfer, according to Ria's Nigeria page.
How long does Ria take to Nigeria?
Ria says card-funded transfers can take as little as 15 minutes, and bank-funded ones 3 to 5 business days.
Why is my Ria transfer under review?
Ria may need ID, source of funds, a selfie, proof of address, the purpose or your relationship to the recipient. Reply to its request quickly, or the transfer may be cancelled.
Sources
- Ria: Send money to Nigeria (US) · accessed Oct 2026
- Ria: Send money to Nigeria (Canada) · accessed Oct 2026
- Ria Help: Sending limits, updated 1 Oct 2026 · accessed Oct 2026
- Ria Help: Information needed to release a transfer, 10 Nov 2023 · accessed Oct 2026
- CBN: International Money Transfer Operators (licensed list) · accessed Oct 2026
- TheCable: CBN Foreign Exchange Manual 2026, 3 Jun 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.