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  Nigerians who live outside of country often need to carry out financial transactions with people back home. And, sometimes, they have to do more than transfer funds. What happens if they have to collect income from assets situated in Nigeria that they still own, for instance? It’s in situations like this that local bank accounts for Nigerians in the Diaspora are shown to be important.
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Many banks in Nigeria have developed financial products dedicated specifically to the country’s Diaspora. If you are a Nigerian in diaspora and in need of a local bank account, you can explore the options we present to you in this article.

FirstDiaspora Account

FirstDiaspora from First Bank is an account type that gives Nigerians abroad access to banking services domiciled within their country of origin. Customers can choose from a range of options—savings, current, corporate, domiciliary, and children’s accounts. If they had an account with First Bank before leaving the country, they could have it converted to a FirstDiaspora Account. This account type receives funds from within Nigeria as well as deposits made by their holders via international money transfer services.

GT Bank NRN Account

The Non-Resident Nigerian account is a product of Guaranty Trust Bank. This account type allows Nigerians in other countries to use the services of GT Bank from wherever they are. Account holders get a Naira MasterCard, which enables them to spend from their Naira account regardless of where they are in the world. Users can access internet banking services, pay local bills, and transfer funds with ease.

Access Bank Diaspora Banking Account

Access Bank’s Diaspora Banking service includes savings, current, and domiciliary accounts, as well as remittances. The Diaspora Banking savings account pays up to 8% in interest per annum on balances. They also receive a Visa Debit Card and get access to internet banking. Authorized third parties may withdraw funds from the account as well. Account types include savings, current, and domiciliary.
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Fidelity Diaspora Banking Accounts

There is a variety of Diaspora banking accounts available from Fidelity Bank. Besides the usual options (savings, current, and domiciliary accounts), there are also fixed deposit and investment accounts, which yield interest payments of up to 5% on dollar balances, and come with a personal banker. Then there are vantage accounts that have extra benefits like financial and business advisory services and access to over 600 airport lounges across the world.

UBA Diaspora Account

It’s quite easy to open a UBA Diaspora if you’re a non-resident Nigerian. All you need to do is fill out an online form and upload the required documents. Upon completing these steps, an account number will be generated and emailed to you. The account may be naira, dollar, pound or euro denominated. Interest payments on naira balances can exceed 7%. Account holders may also apply for loans of up to ₦10 million.

Stanbic IBTC Diaspora Account

The Stanbic IBTC Diaspora Account opens up a world of opportunities for its holders. With it, they can manage finances back home from wherever they are; execute projects; save to purchase a home; invest in local wealth instruments; and benefit from financial advisory provided by the Stanbic team. Maximum interest accruable on funds kept in a Stanbic IBTC Diaspora savings account is north of 8% per annum.

Zenith Diaspora Account

Zenith Bank’s Diaspora Account has several valuable features and delivers a host of perks. Things on offer range from debit, credit and prepaid cards denominated in naira, dollars, pounds or euros, to dedicated relationship managers. In addition to these, mortgage, medical, financial advisory, and concierge services are available to account holders, as are NIN and BVN enrollments in the Diaspora.
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Final Words

That wraps up our look at 7 local bank accounts for Nigerians in the Diaspora. If you’re a Nigerian living abroad and you’d like to open an account with any of these banks, be sure to review their offerings before choosing one. You can visit their websites to learn more about the accounts we’ve covered here.
Got something you want to read about on our platform? Contact us: editor@connectnigeria.com
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This article was first published on 7th April 2025
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ikenna-nwachukwu

Ikenna Nwachukwu holds a bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He loves to look at the world through multiple lenses- economic, political, religious and philosophical- and to write about what he observes in a witty, yet reflective style.

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