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
UBA cheque books are issued on current accounts and are requested at a branch or through your relationship officer. UBA's charges schedule dated 11 September 2026 lists ₦1,511 plus VAT for 25 leaves (₦1,624.33), ₦3,023 plus VAT for 50 leaves and ₦6,046 plus VAT for 100 leaves. You collect the book in person with ID, and the charge is debited from the account.
Who can get a UBA cheque book
Cheque books are tied to current accounts, personal or business. A savings account does not come with one. If you hold only a savings account and need to issue cheques, for rent, a supplier or a school that still asks for them, you will need to open a current account first. For businesses, the account must be fully documented, and signatories must match the mandate the bank holds.
What it costs
UBA's tariff PDF, Service Charges & Rates dated 11 September 2026, lists the following. VAT is 7.5%.
| Item | Listed charge | With VAT |
|---|---|---|
| Cheque book, 25 leaves | ₦1,511 + VAT | ₦1,624.33 |
| Cheque book, 50 leaves | ₦3,023 + VAT | ₦3,249.73 |
| Cheque book, 100 leaves | ₦6,046 + VAT | ₦6,499.45 |
| Counter cheque | ₦50 per leaf | ₦50 |
| Stopped cheque | ₦500 + VAT | ₦537.50 |
| Cheque returned unpaid (unfunded account) | 1% of face value or ₦5,000, whichever is higher | Varies |
The CBN's Guide to Charges, effective 1 January 2020, treats cheque books on a cost-recovery basis and caps counter cheques at ₦50 a leaf, which matches UBA's counter cheque line. Prices for cheque books are therefore set by each bank and do change; check the current schedule before you order.
How to request one
- Make sure the current account is funded enough to cover the charge.
- Go to your branch, or contact your relationship officer if you have one, and ask for a cheque book requisition. Say how many leaves you need.
- Sign the requisition with the signature on your mandate. For joint or business accounts, the signing rule on the mandate applies.
- Ask how long production will take and which branch you will collect from. UBA does not publish a turnaround time.
- Collect in person with a valid ID. For a business, an authorised signatory collects, or a third party with a signed authority letter if the branch accepts it.
- Check the book on collection: your name, account number and the leaf count.
UBA's pages do not list cheque book requests among the services offered through Leo, its chat banking assistant, or *919#, so the branch is the route we can confirm. The contact centre on 07002255822 can tell you if a remote request is possible for your account.
A worked example
Example: a small business orders one 50-leaf book and stops one cheque during the year.
- Cheque book: ₦3,023 + ₦226.73 VAT = ₦3,249.73.
- Stopped cheque: ₦500 + ₦37.50 VAT = ₦537.50.
- Total for the year: ₦3,787.23.
A single cheque returned unpaid because the account was short would add at least ₦5,000, which is why a funded account matters before you hand over a cheque.
Counter cheques and writing a cheque correctly
A counter cheque is a single cheque leaf issued at the branch when you do not have your book with you, usually for a withdrawal at the counter. At ₦50 a leaf it is cheap, but it is meant for occasional use, not as a substitute for a book.
Cheques are rejected for avoidable reasons. Write the date in full, the payee's name exactly as on their account, and the amount in both words and figures, making sure they match. Sign as you signed the mandate, and countersign any alteration. A crossed cheque, with two parallel lines across the top corner, can only be paid into an account, which protects you if it is lost. Ask the payee which name their account is held in before you write it, especially for companies.
Keeping a cheque book safe
- Store it as you would cash. Report a lost book to UBA at once so the leaves can be stopped.
- Never sign a blank cheque, and draw a line through unused space after the amount.
- Record each cheque's number, date, payee and amount on the counterfoil.
- When you close the account, return unused leaves; our guide to closing a UBA account covers this.
Charges such as stamp duty and transfer fees also appear on current accounts; our guides to UBA stamp duty and UBA transfer charges explain them.
How long cheques take to clear
A cheque is not cash in the payee's hands until it clears through the clearing system. UBA does not publish its own clearing times, and timing depends on whether the cheque is drawn on UBA or another bank. If a payment is urgent, a transfer is faster. If you are receiving a cheque, do not release goods or keys until the value shows in your account as cleared, not merely deposited.
Where Pryme fits
Many payments that used to need a cheque can be made and evidenced by transfer. A Pryme account can send money to any Nigerian bank (sending), and any customer can generate a verifiable receipt that the recipient can check is genuine and unaltered with VerifyDoc.ai (receipts). Where a landlord or supplier insists on a cheque, you still need a bank current account.
Questions people ask
How much is a UBA cheque book?
UBA's 11 September 2026 schedule lists ₦1,511 plus VAT for 25 leaves, ₦3,023 plus VAT for 50 and ₦6,046 plus VAT for 100.
Can I request a UBA cheque book online?
UBA's published pages do not describe an online or USSD request. Ask at your branch or call 07002255822.
Can I get a cheque book on a UBA savings account?
No. Cheque books are issued on current accounts.
How much does UBA charge to stop a cheque?
₦500 plus VAT, which is ₦537.50, per the September 2026 schedule.
Sources
- UBA Service Charges & Rates (dated 11 Sept 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- CBN Guide to Charges by Banks, effective 1 January 2020 · accessed Oct 2026
- UBA Nigeria: Contact us · 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.