PRDTNGLA11-character variant (head office):
PRDTNGLAXXX| Bank code | Country | Location |
|---|---|---|
| PRDT | NG | LA |
| Polaris Bank | NG (Nigeria) | Lagos |
An 11-character variant like PRDTNGLAXXX also indicates the head office — the trailing 'XXX' is the default. Codes ending in different sequences (e.g. 'PRDTNGLA001') refer to specific branches.
Polaris Bank was established in 2018 when the Central Bank of Nigeria revoked the licence of Skye Bank and AMCON (the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria) created a bridge bank to take over its operations. In 2022 Polaris was acquired by Strategic Capital Investment Limited from AMCON, completing the transition from bridge bank to fully private ownership. The bank operates approximately 250 branches in Nigeria with a strong retail and SME focus. The 8-character SWIFT code PRDTNGLA — using a bank code derived from "Prudent" — identifies the head office on Victoria Island, Lagos. The long form is PRDTNGLAXXX.
vs NGN (Nigerian Naira)
Compare international operators that can deposit to a Polaris Bank account through their banking partner network.
Wise is a MomoCalc affiliate partner — we may earn a commission if you open an account via this link, at no extra cost to you.
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 Polaris Bank, your sending bank needs this code (PRDTNGLA) to route the payment message through correspondent banks to Polaris Bank 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 PRDTNGLA + 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 Polaris 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 PRDTNGLAXXX), 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.
Polaris Bank's SWIFT/BIC code is PRDTNGLA. 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 Polaris Bank's code referenced under either name on different financial platforms.
Yes. For an international wire to reach your Polaris Bank account, the sender needs SWIFT code PRDTNGLA AND your account number. Some sending banks also request the recipient bank's full address (3 Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos).
Typically 1 to 5 business days. The timing depends on the intermediary (correspondent) banks between the sending bank and Polaris 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: Polaris 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.