Nigeria bank charges 2026: what's in force vs the CBN draft
Every Nigerian bank charge is CBN-regulated and standardised — banks adopt the CBN Guide to Charges, they don't set their own. This page separates what you actually pay now from the April 2026 draft that social media is treating as live, and compares each launch bank's own document.
Verified 2026-07-03 · sources: CBN Guide to Charges (2020) + ATM circular (2025); each bank's own tariff
What are the new bank charges in Nigeria in 2026?
The '2026 bank charges' spreading on social media come from a CBN EXPOSURE DRAFT (signed 21 April 2026, comments closed 8 May 2026) that is NOT yet law. What is actually in force today is the CBN Guide to Charges of 2020, plus the ATM-fee revision effective 1 March 2025. So there was no January, May or June 2026 fee change — those dates are unconfirmed. Below: what you actually pay now, and separately what the draft would change.
What's actually in force (the CBN maximums)
These are CAPS — the most a bank may charge. Many banks charge exactly the cap; some charge less. Figures are from the CBN Guide (2020), with the ATM line updated by the March 2025 revision.
| Charge | CBN maximum (in force) | Since |
|---|---|---|
| ATM withdrawal — your own bank | No charge | 2020 Guide |
| ATM withdrawal — another bank (in Nigeria) | ₦100 per ₦20,000 (on-site); off-site adds a surcharge up to ₦500 | revised, effective 1 March 2025 |
| ATM withdrawal — international | Exact cost by the international acquirer (cost recovery) | 2020 Guide |
| Electronic transfer (NIP / instant) | ₦10 (≤₦5,000) · ₦25 (₦5,001–₦50,000) · ₦50 (over ₦50,000) | 2020 Guide |
| RTGS (large-value transfer) | ₦950 | 2020 Guide |
| Debit card issuance | ₦1,000 one-off (Naira card) | 2020 Guide |
| Card replacement / renewal | ₦1,000 one-off | 2020 Guide |
| Card maintenance | ₦0 on current-account Naira cards; up to ₦50/quarter on savings cards; $10/yr on FX cards | 2020 Guide |
| Account maintenance (CAMF) | Up to ₦1 per mille on current-account third-party debits (₦1 per ₦1,000); not on savings accounts | 2020 Guide |
| SMS alert | Cost recovery, up to ₦4 per SMS (customer-induced only); email alerts free | 2020 Guide |
| Account statement | Monthly statement free; special request up to ₦20/page | 2020 Guide |
| Reference / status letter | ₦500 per request | 2020 Guide |
How much does it cost to transfer money?
| Amount | CBN transfer fee | + EMTL (₦50 if ≥₦10k) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| ₦5,000 | ₦10 | — | ₦10 |
| ₦10,000 | ₦25 | ₦50 | ₦75 |
| ₦50,000 | ₦25 | ₦50 | ₦75 |
| ₦100,000 | ₦50 | ₦50 | ₦100 |
The ₦50 EMTL (Electronic Money Transfer Levy) on transfers of ₦10,000 and above is a Federal (FIRS) stamp-duty levy, not a CBN bank charge. From 1 January 2026 it is deducted from the sender.
What the April 2026 draft would change (not yet law)
Draft only. Stakeholder comments closed 8 May 2026. As of the reviewed date, no final 2026 Guide has taken legal effect — so these are PROPOSALS, not current charges.
- Transfer below ₦5,000: would become free (currently ₦10)
- Transfer ₦5,000–₦50,000: would drop ₦25 → ₦10
- Card issuance: would rise ₦1,000 → ₦1,500
- Account maintenance (CAMF): would phase down to ₦0.5 per mille (2026), then ₦0 (2027)
Exposure Draft — Guide to Charges by Banks and Other Financial Institutions, signed 21 April 2026 (Dr. Rita Sike, CBN Financial Policy & Regulation)
Which bank is cheaper? (they follow the same CBN caps)
Because the CBN standardises the regulated charges, banks barely differ on ATM, transfer, card or CAMF fees — they all sit at the caps above. What actually differs is each bank's USSD channel fee, its VAT presentation, and whether it publishes its own tariff. Click a bank for its full page.
| Bank | USSD | Own tariff doc? | USSD transfer (other bank) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access | *901# | Yes | CBN tiers |
| GTBank | *737# | No — follows CBN Guide | ₦50 |
| Zenith | *966# | No — follows CBN Guide | CBN tiers |
| UBA | *919# | Yes | CBN tiers |
| First Bank | *894# | No — follows CBN Guide | CBN tiers |
| Stanbic IBTC | *909# | Yes | CBN tiers |
What is the Tier 1 account limit?
Nigerian bank accounts sit on the CBN 3-Tier KYC framework — a different regulation from the Guide to Charges, so no bank tariff PDF restates these. The specific limits have been revised and vary by source; confirm your current tier limit with your bank.
| Tier | Who | Limit (verify) |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | BVN or NIN only (low-value) | historically ~₦50,000 max single deposit, ~₦300,000 balance — verify |
| Tier 2 | Verified ID + address | historically ~₦100,000 single, ~₦500,000 balance — verify |
| Tier 3 | Full KYC | no standard transaction cap (subject to AML monitoring) |
Charges by bank
Digital banks charge differently — see our dedicated pages for POS / agent charges (OPay, Moniepoint, PalmPay) and USSD codes by bank.