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
Most Nigerian banks update a foreign address when you send a customer information update request with valid ID and recent proof of the new address, such as a utility bill or bank statement dated within the last three months. Some, like GTBank for non-resident customers, ask for a notarised utility bill or a stamped overseas bank reference. Keeping it current matters because banks review customer details and can restrict accounts whose records are out of date.
Your Nigerian bank probably still has your old address in Surulere or Wuse. That seems harmless until a review flags the account, a card replacement needs posting, or a US bank asks why your statements show a Lagos address. Updating it is mostly paperwork, and the paperwork is predictable.
Why the address matters
- Due diligence: CBN Customer Due Diligence Regulations 2023 require banks to know and keep up to date who their customers are; Templars' summary notes penalties under BOFIA for institutions that fall short. Out-of-date records are a common reason for restrictions.
- Status: an address abroad tells the bank you are a non-resident customer. Some banks have specific non-resident or diaspora account types and services.
- Tax: PwC's summary says Nigerian residents are taxed on worldwide income and non-residents only on Nigerian-sourced income. Your bank record is not a tax decision, but it should match your actual situation.
- Practicality: statements, letters and cards go to the right place.
What banks ask for
| Bank | What its page says |
|---|---|
| Stanbic IBTC | Address update needs valid ID plus a utility bill not more than three months old showing the new address; updates through its Quick Services |
| GTBank (non-resident services) | Proof of foreign address: a stamped overseas bank reference or banker's confirmation, or a notarised utility bill or stamped statement within three months |
| Access Bank | Account management request form; diaspora customers can use a passport plus visa or notarised permit as ID, alongside a utility bill |
In the US, documents that usually serve as proof of address include a utility bill, a bank or credit card statement, or a lease, in your name and dated within the period the bank sets. Some banks want the copy notarised, which a US notary public can do. If the bank rejects a US utility bill, see when a Nigerian bank wants a US utility bill.
Steps from the US
- Find your bank's customer information update form on its website, or ask its diaspora desk or customer care by email.
- Prepare valid ID: your Nigerian passport, or the ID the bank accepts for diaspora customers.
- Prepare proof of the new US address, dated within three months.
- Notarise copies if the bank asks; check whether it accepts a US notary.
- Send the pack by the channel the bank names (email, portal, or a branch through a relative with authority), sign to match your mandate, and keep a copy.
- Ask for written confirmation, and check the new address appears on your next statement.
Address, phone and BVN
An address change at your bank does not change your BVN record. NIBSS says updates of customer information on the BVN are done physically at bank branches. If your BVN details need correcting, that is a separate process; see BVN correction rules. Phone numbers are covered in using a US phone number with your Nigerian bank.
Should you tell the bank you now live abroad?
Yes. Some people keep a Nigerian address on file to avoid paperwork, but it creates more problems than it solves. Logins from the US, US documents and a Nigerian address on record are the kind of mismatch that triggers reviews. Banks also run non-resident services built for this: GTBank's NRN Services, for example, are for Nigerians living outside Nigeria for more than 180 days a year and set out the foreign-address documents they accept.
An accurate record also helps you. Statements that show your US address are easier to use with US banks, landlords and tax preparers, and a bank that knows you are abroad is more likely to accept documents by email or through a diaspora desk instead of insisting on a branch visit.
If a relative manages the account
A relative can often hand in documents for you, but only you can give the instruction. Sign the request yourself, and make sure the bank has a valid mandate if someone is acting for you.
Do the update before you need the account for something big. A property payment or school fee deadline is the worst moment to discover the bank wants a fresh proof of address.
Common snags
- Name mismatch: the name on the utility bill must match the account. A married name on one and a maiden name on the other needs a marriage certificate.
- Old documents: a bill older than three months is often rejected.
- Screenshots: some banks will not accept a screenshot of an online bill; download the PDF.
- Joint accounts: all signatories may need to sign.
Where Pryme fits
Pryme Personal Accounts can be opened from any country, with your current address and ID captured in the app at the start (open an account). Outside Nigeria, Pryme's activities are carried out through regulated partners. See how it works.
Questions people ask
How do I change my address with my Nigerian bank from America?
Send the bank's customer information update form with valid ID and proof of your US address dated within three months, by the channel it names.
Will my Nigerian bank accept a US utility bill?
Many do, within three months. GTBank's non-resident pack accepts a notarised utility bill or a stamped overseas bank reference.
Does changing my address change my BVN?
No. NIBSS says BVN information updates are done physically at bank branches, separately from your account record.
Why does my Nigerian bank need my foreign address?
Banks must keep customer records up to date under CBN due diligence rules, and an address abroad marks you as a non-resident customer.
Sources
- Stanbic IBTC: Account update FAQs · accessed Oct 2026
- GTBank: NRN Services · accessed Oct 2026
- Access Bank: Account Management Request Form · accessed Oct 2026
- Templars: CBN Customer Due Diligence Regulations 2023, key highlights · accessed Oct 2026
- NIBSS: Bank Verification Number · accessed Oct 2026
- PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries: Nigeria, individual taxes · 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.