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The short answer
Navy Federal and PenFed members have two main routes: an international wire straight from the credit union to a Nigerian bank, or using the credit union debit card or checking account to fund a licensed transfer app. Navy Federal lists its outgoing international wire at $25 and PenFed lists $35 (October 2026), before any intermediary or receiving-bank charges and before the exchange rate.
The two routes for credit union members
Members of the two big military credit unions often keep their pay, savings and cards there for years. Neither is a remittance company, so sending to Nigeria means either a SWIFT wire or using your account to pay a provider that specialises in transfers.
| International wire | Fund a transfer app | |
|---|---|---|
| Credit union fee | Navy Federal $25; PenFed $35 (each credit union's own fee page) | None from the credit union for a debit or ACH payment, unless a card fee applies |
| Provider fee | Possible intermediary and receiving-bank charges | App fee shown before you pay |
| Exchange rate | Set by the credit union if sent in foreign currency; by the Nigerian bank if sent in USD | Set by the app, shown before you pay |
| Speed | Navy Federal states 5 to 7 business days | Often same day; app shows estimate |
| Best for | Large, documented payments to a bank account | Regular family support, mobile wallets, cash pickup |
Navy Federal: what its pages say
Navy Federal's wire transfer page and fee schedule (checked October 2026) set out how international wires work:
- Outgoing international wire: $25. Domestic outgoing wire: $20. Incoming wires: free.
- Wires can be sent in US dollars or in a foreign currency. For foreign currency it gives a quoted rate that includes conversion costs, which you accept or decline, and the rate is locked once accepted.
- You request a wire with its International Transfer Request Form by secure message, by phone on 1-888-842-6328, at a branch that offers international wires, or by post.
- The form asks for the payee's name and address, account number and type, SWIFT/BIC, any intermediary bank and the purpose.
- Third-party wires over $5,000 must be requested in writing, by secure message or at a branch.
- Receiving banks may charge their own fees.
Navy Federal's page does not say whether it can send naira specifically. Ask before you send, and confirm with the Nigerian bank what currency the account accepts. Our longer guide on whether a Navy Federal international wire to Nigeria is possible goes through the form line by line.
PenFed: what its pages say
PenFed's current service fees page, which says rates are current as of October 2026, lists an International Wire Transfer at $35.00 and a Domestic Wire Transfer at $30.00. It does not list an incoming wire fee. Its checking and savings accounts carry a foreign transaction fee of "up to 2% of transaction amount", which matters if a transfer app or merchant processes your card payment abroad. The fee page does not describe how to request an international wire or which currencies are available, so call PenFed or use secure messaging before relying on it for a Nigerian payment.
Using your credit union card or account with an app
For regular sums, many members fund a licensed transfer app instead. You add the credit union debit card or link the checking account in the app.
- Remitly's US page for Nigeria lists debit and credit cards, prepaid cards and bank accounts as payment methods.
- LemFi's help centre lists debit card, Apple Pay and Google Pay for adding money from the US.
- Use the debit card or bank link, not a credit card. The CFPB notes cash advances usually cost a fee and a higher rate, with interest from day one, and card issuers may treat transfers as cash advances.
Example only. You need ₦1,000,000 to reach your sister. By wire in USD, you pay the credit union fee ($25 or $35), any intermediary fee, and the Nigerian bank converts or credits dollars at its own rate. Through an app funded by debit card, you see the naira amount and the app fee before paying. Compare the total dollars out of your account for the same naira in.
Deployed or stationed overseas
If you are posted abroad, the same routes usually work, but check two things: whether your transfer app accepts senders outside the US, and whether a foreign IP address or location triggers extra identity checks. Keep your US address current with the credit union so payments from your account are not declined.
Before you send
- Get the recipient's full name as on the account, the account number and the bank's SWIFT/BIC if wiring.
- Ask the Nigerian bank whether the account can receive the currency you are sending.
- For wires, keep the confirmation with the reference; for apps, keep the receipt.
- If something goes wrong, the credit union's own process applies to wires; for app transfers, the CFPB remittance rules give you 30 minutes to cancel and 180 days to report errors.
Where Pryme fits
A Pryme Personal Account can be opened from the US and holds USD with local account details, so money can stay in dollars until you decide to convert. When you send to Nigeria or use Swap, the app shows the rate and the fee before you approve. Outside Nigeria, Pryme works through regulated partners, and its security uses an authenticator app rather than SMS codes, which helps if you are abroad on a different phone network.
Questions people ask
Can I send money to Nigeria from Navy Federal?
Yes, by international wire. Navy Federal lists a $25 fee for outgoing international wires and says they take 5 to 7 business days. You can also use your Navy Federal debit card or account to fund a licensed transfer app.
How much is a PenFed international wire?
PenFed's service fee page lists $35.00 for an international wire transfer, current as of October 2026. Receiving or intermediary banks may charge extra.
Does PenFed charge a foreign transaction fee on its debit card?
Its fee page lists up to 2% of the transaction amount for its checking and savings accounts, with no fee on certain PenFed credit cards.
Is a wire or an app better for sending money to Nigeria?
Wires suit large, documented payments to a bank. Apps usually suit smaller regular transfers and show the naira amount before you pay. Compare the total dollars paid for the same naira received.
Sources
- Navy Federal Credit Union: Wire transfers · accessed Oct 2026
- Navy Federal Credit Union: Fees and charges · accessed Oct 2026
- PenFed Credit Union: Current service fees (current as of October 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- Remitly: Send money to Nigeria from the US · accessed Oct 2026
- LemFi Help: Add money from the US · accessed Oct 2026
- CFPB: Can I withdraw money from my credit card at an ATM? (reviewed 2 Sep 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.