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The short answer
Union Bank's dollar card is the UnionAce MasterCard, issued on a UnionAce US dollar account that opens with a minimum of $100. Union Bank's page, as at October 2026, gives daily limits of $7,500 for POS and $4,000 for web payments, a $10 annual maintenance fee and a three-year card validity. Union Bank does not publish international limits for its naira cards on the pages we checked, so ask before relying on one abroad.
Nigerians who pay for flights, software subscriptions, school portals or hotel bookings abroad have learned that naira cards can be unreliable for foreign spending. A card drawn on a dollar account avoids the naira conversion at the point of payment, because it spends dollars you already hold. Union Bank's answer is UnionAce. Here is what the bank publishes about it, and what it leaves out.
UnionAce: what Union Bank publishes
| Feature | Union Bank domiciliary page (Oct 2026) |
|---|---|
| Account currency | US dollars |
| Minimum opening balance | $100 |
| Card | UnionAce MasterCard |
| Card validity | 3 years |
| Annual maintenance | $10 |
| Daily POS limit | $7,500 |
| Daily web limit | $4,000 |
| Charges on POS and web payments abroad | None stated by the bank |
| Interest on the account | Up to 4% a year, as at Oct 2026 |
The page also mentions over-the-counter transactions on the account and discounts on tickets from selected airlines, without naming them. A separate heading, Dom Travel Card USD, appears on the same page with no details beneath it, so we cannot describe that product.
How the limits interact
The POS and web limits are daily and separate. Example: on one day you pay a $3,500 hotel bill at a card terminal and a $1,200 flight online. The hotel bill uses $3,500 of the $7,500 POS limit; the flight uses $1,200 of the $4,000 web limit. You could still spend $4,000 more at terminals and $2,800 more online that day, provided the account holds the dollars.
Documents and how to apply
Union Bank lists these for UnionAce:
- BVN
- Internal KYC documentation (the bank's account forms)
- Two valid references
- Two passport photographs
- A valid ID: international passport, driver's licence or National ID card
- A utility bill under three months old or a signed tenancy agreement
The references requirement usually means a branch visit or at least a paper process, so this is not an instant online card. Ask the branch how long card production takes and whether the card is collected in person. Our guide to opening a Union Bank account online explains what can be done remotely.
Funding the dollar account
A UnionAce card spends only what the dollar account holds. Ways to fund it include inbound international transfers, transfers from another domiciliary account and, where the bank accepts it, cash dollars over the counter. Union Bank's domiciliary page lists a 0.05% charge on cash withdrawals from its standard domiciliary account, capped at $10, and a 2% charge when cash deposits on the domiciliary current account are transferred, so the way you fund the account affects your cost. For inbound transfers, the sender needs Union Bank's SWIFT code (see our SWIFT code guide).
What about naira cards abroad?
Union Bank's pages that we could read in October 2026 did not state whether its naira debit cards work outside Nigeria or what their foreign spending limits are. Nigerian banks have changed naira card limits for international use several times, and announcements are often made by SMS or email rather than on product pages. Before you travel, ask UnionCare (07007007000) or a branch, in writing, three things: whether your specific naira card works abroad, the current monthly or quarterly limit, and the exchange rate basis. Do not rely on figures in old blog posts.
Fees to expect
- $10 a year card maintenance, as Union Bank states. The CBN Guide to Charges (2020) caps foreign-currency card maintenance at $10 a year, so this sits at the cap.
- Card issuance or replacement: not stated on the page; ask.
- Foreign ATM withdrawal fees: not stated on the page; the foreign ATM owner may add its own charge.
- Merchant dynamic currency conversion: if a foreign terminal offers to charge you in naira or dollars instead of local currency, the conversion rate is set by the merchant's provider. Choosing the local currency usually avoids an extra mark-up, but check your card's rules.
If the card is lost or blocked abroad
Save Union Bank's contacts before you travel: UnionCare +234-1-2716816, WhatsApp 09070070001 and customerservice@unionbankng.com. If the card is lost or stolen, ask the bank to block it at once and confirm the block by email. Carry a second payment method, because a replacement card normally has to be produced in Nigeria and collected or delivered, which takes time. If a foreign merchant charges you twice or a payment fails but the account is debited, raise a dispute with Union Bank quickly with the receipt and the merchant's name; card disputes depend on prompt reporting.
What to check first
- Is your need recurring (subscriptions) or one-off (a single trip)? A dollar account with a card makes most sense for recurring spending.
- Can you fund the dollar account regularly from dollar income, rather than buying dollars each time?
- Have you confirmed, in writing, card production time and any issuance fee?
- Have you set up alerts so every foreign debit is visible?
Where Pryme fits
A Pryme account holds NGN, USD, GBP and EUR with local account details for each, and money stays in the currency it arrived in until you choose to Swap it. Outside Nigeria, financial activities are carried out through regulated partners. See multicurrency accounts and our comparison of domiciliary and multicurrency accounts.
Questions people ask
Does Union Bank have a dollar card?
Yes. The UnionAce MasterCard is issued on a UnionAce US dollar account, which needs a $100 minimum opening balance.
What is the Union Bank dollar card limit?
Union Bank's page gives daily limits of $7,500 for POS payments and $4,000 for web payments, as at October 2026.
How much is Union Bank dollar card maintenance fee?
$10 a year, according to Union Bank's domiciliary page. The card is valid for three years.
Can I use Union Bank naira card abroad?
Union Bank does not publish this on the pages we checked. Ask UnionCare or your branch in writing for your card's current foreign limit before you travel.
Sources
- Union Bank: Domiciliary Account · accessed Oct 2026
- CBN Guide to Charges by Banks, Other Financial and Non-Bank Financial Institutions (effective 1 Jan 2020) · accessed Oct 2026
- Union Bank: How can we help you? (contact and complaints) · 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.