FBNINGLA11-character variant (head office):
FBNINGLAXXX| Bank code | Country | Location |
|---|---|---|
| FBNI | NG | LA |
| First Bank | NG (Nigeria) | Lagos |
An 11-character variant like FBNINGLAXXX also indicates the head office — the trailing 'XXX' is the default. Codes ending in different sequences (e.g. 'FBNINGLA001') refer to specific branches.
First Bank of Nigeria is the country's oldest commercial bank, founded in 1894 as the Bank of British West Africa. With more than 750 branches and a presence across Nigeria's 36 states, it is one of the most extensive retail networks on the continent. The bank operates international subsidiaries in the UK (FBN Bank UK), France, Ghana, the Gambia, Sierra Leone, Senegal, the Republic of Congo, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Its long history and dense branch network make First Bank a default destination for inbound diaspora wires, particularly via the UK corridor where FBN Bank UK serves as a settlement gateway. The 8-character SWIFT code FBNINGLA routes wires to the Lagos head office.
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SWIFT and BIC are two names for the same identifier: an 8 or 11-character code standardised by ISO 9362 that identifies a bank in the SWIFT payment network. For a wire to First Bank, your sending bank needs this code (FBNINGLA) to route the payment message through correspondent banks to First Bank of Nigeria in Lagos.
An IBAN, by contrast, identifies a specific bank account — not the institution. IBANs are mandatory in the European Economic Area, the UK, most of the Middle East, and several African countries (but Nigeria does not use IBANs universally). For most wires to Nigeria, you will supply SWIFT code FBNINGLA + the recipient's account number, not an IBAN.
UK sort codes (6 digits) and US routing numbers (9 digits) are domestic-only equivalents — they do not work for international wires. If a US-based sender wants to wire to First Bank, they need the SWIFT code, not the US routing number of the correspondent bank (although their bank may use the routing number internally to route their side of the wire).
One final technical detail on the 11-character form: the last three characters identify a specific branch. When they read 'XXX' (as in FBNINGLAXXX), they conventionally designate the head office itself. Most international wires use either the 8-character form or the 11-character form with XXX; unless your recipient explicitly tells you otherwise, that is the right choice.
First Bank of Nigeria's SWIFT/BIC code is FBNINGLA. This 8-character code identifies the bank's Lagos head office for international wire transfers.
Yes. SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) and BIC (Business Identifier Code) are two names for the same 8 or 11-character identifier standardised by ISO 9362. You will see First Bank's code referenced under either name on different financial platforms.
Yes. For an international wire to reach your First Bank account, the sender needs SWIFT code FBNINGLA AND your account number. Some sending banks also request the recipient bank's full address (Samuel Asabia House, 35 Marina, Lagos).
Typically 1 to 5 business days. The timing depends on the intermediary (correspondent) banks between the sending bank and First Bank. Wires from major global banks (HSBC, Barclays, JPMorgan, Citi) usually clear fastest.
For smaller amounts to Nigeria, operators such as Wise, LemFi, Sendwave, and TapTap Send typically offer a rate closer to mid-market and lower fees than a classic SWIFT bank wire. See our Nigeria inbound corridor comparison for side-by-side pricing.
Source: First Bank's official website + Wise SWIFT directory. Last verified: 2026-06-04. SWIFT codes change rarely but always confirm with your bank before initiating a transfer. Educational only — not financial advice.