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The short answer
As at October 2026, we found no published ProvidusUnity Bank notice saying Unity Bank account numbers will change. Reports of the June 2026 Supreme Court ruling said deposits remain intact and accessible and that details on unifying accounts would follow, but did not say NUBANs or bank codes would change. Until the bank confirms in writing, keep using your existing number and verify any change only through the bank's own channels.
For most people the account number is the part of a merger that matters most. It is printed on invoices, linked to salaries, pensions, school portals and government payments. This article sets out what is known, what is not, and how to protect yourself while the bank completes the combination.
What has been published
- Condia reported on 26 June 2026 that a five-member Supreme Court panel led by Justice Tijani Abubakar dismissed an appeal seeking to halt the consolidation, and that Unity Bank's assets, liabilities and undertakings were to transfer to Providus Bank within 10 days.
- The same report said customer deposits, savings and corporate funds remain fully intact and accessible, and that the new name would appear on banking apps, debit cards and transaction alerts.
- It said details on unifying existing accounts were expected in the coming days. We did not find those details on the Providus or Unity websites in October 2026.
- Unity Bank's website, still online in October 2026, carried no merger notice on the pages we opened.
NUBAN and bank codes explained
Your 10-digit account number is a NUBAN (Nigeria Uniform Bank Account Number). It is built with the bank's code, so the number and the bank it belongs to go together. When two banks merge, there are two common approaches: keep each legacy bank's codes running so old numbers keep working, or move customers to new numbers over time with a period in which both work. Which one ProvidusUnity uses is a decision for the bank and the payment system operators, and we have not seen it announced.
A precedent, not a promise
When Access Bank and Diamond Bank merged in 2019, Access Bank's published merger FAQs said Diamond customers' account numbers and relationship managers would not change. That shows one way Nigerian banks have handled it. It does not tell you what ProvidusUnity will do.
What to do now
- Keep using your existing account number for incoming payments.
- Call customer care (TechCabal listed +234 7057 323 225 and 0708 066 6000 for Unity Bank in May 2026) and ask: Will my account number change? Will senders need to choose a different bank name? Is there a date?
- Ask for the answer by email so you have it in writing.
- When senders choose your bank in their app, check the account name shown before they send. If 'Unity Bank' disappears from the list, ask the bank which name to select.
- Keep at least one recent statement showing your account number and name, for proof if a payment is misrouted.
Who to tell if it does change
If the bank announces new numbers, update them in this order, because these are the payments that are hardest to recover once misdirected:
| Priority | Who | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Employer or payroll provider | Salary is the largest regular inflow |
| 2 | Pension fund administrator and government payers | Changes often take a form and a wait |
| 3 | Customers who pay you by transfer | Invoices and payment pages may carry the old number |
| 4 | Direct debits and standing orders | Failed debits can attract charges or default |
| 5 | Family and friends abroad | Remittance profiles store old details |
Be alert to scams
Mergers attract fraudsters who send 'account update' links or call claiming your account will be closed unless you 'revalidate'. Unity Bank's FAQ warns customers not to respond to suspicious email links or calls demanding that you update your account. Never share your PIN or OTP. Confirm any instruction by calling the number you already know or by visiting a branch. Read what the merger changes for customers.
Payments that are already set up
Standing orders, direct debits and loan repayments set up on your Unity account were part of the liabilities and undertakings that passed to Providus. In principle they continue, but in practice any mandate that names 'Unity Bank' in a third party's system, such as a school portal, a cooperative deduction or an insurance premium, relies on that third party's records too. Ask each organisation that debits or credits your account whether it has been told about the change of bank name, and watch your first statement after any change for payments that failed. A failed debit can mean a missed loan instalment or a lapsed policy, so check before the due date rather than after.
If a payment to your old details fails
If someone tells you a transfer to your Unity account failed or went to the wrong name, ask them for the session ID and report it to the bank the same day. Do not give them a different account until you know where the first payment went, or the sender may end up paying twice.
Where Pryme fits
If you receive money from abroad, a Pryme account gives local account details in NGN, USD, GBP and EUR that do not depend on a bank's merger timetable. See multicurrency accounts and how Pryme works.
Questions people ask
Will my Unity Bank account number change after the merger?
We found no published notice saying it will, as at October 2026. Ask ProvidusUnity Bank to confirm in writing and keep using your current number until told otherwise.
Is my money safe in Unity Bank after the merger?
Reports of the June 2026 ruling said customer deposits remain intact and accessible. Unity accounts became part of ProvidusUnity Bank, a CBN-licensed bank.
Should senders choose Unity Bank or Providus Bank in their app?
Use the option that shows your correct account name. If Unity Bank disappears from the list, ask ProvidusUnity which bank name to select.
Will my Unity debit card still work?
Reports said the new name would appear on cards. Ask the bank whether your current card stays valid until a replacement is issued.
Sources
- Condia: Providus and Unity Bank merger forms ProvidusUnity Bank (26 Jun 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- Unity Bank FAQs · accessed Oct 2026
- Access Bank: Merger FAQs (Access and Diamond, 2019) · accessed Oct 2026
- TechCabal: customer care numbers for banks and fintechs in Nigeria (22 May 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- Innovation Village: ProvidusUnity Bank customers report service issues (3 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.