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Diaspora

We understand the need to maintain your relationships back here in Nigeria whilst abroad, after all there is no place like home!

Accounts and Transactions

Switch offers you secure, quick and convenient banking. The platform gives you easy access to multi-currency savings, cheaper transfer rates and the best lending, investment and insurance products in Nigeria. You also have the flexibility of choosing between a wallet or an account. It is a free, easy to use financial services application created to ensure that every one of Nigerian heritage has access to the Nigerian Financial ecosystem regardless of where they live.

  • Multi-currency savings accounts
  • Cheaper money transfers
  • Payment requests
  • Bill payments
  • Virtual cards
  • Invest with i-invest 
  • Joint and Current Account opening

Remittance

Sterling has partnered with top International Money Transfer Operators to ensure customers conveniently receive funds from persons around the world. With our remittance services, you can choose to receive money at any Sterling branch nationwide.

MoneyGram Logo SVG

MoneyGram is an international fund transfer service provider that enables individuals to send and receive money from over 200 countries and over 347,000 agents globally.

  • Fast
  • Secure
  • Funds can be accessed via cash pickup at any Sterling branch nationwide.
  • Reference ID
  • Amount
  • Acceptable means of ID
  • Receiver’s name, address, and phone number.
  • Funds can only be disbursed in Naira.

Accessible to both account holders and non-account holders above 18 years of age.

Bank Verification Number.

WU Logo SVG 2024 optimized

You can receive funds from around the world at any Sterling Bank branch via our money transfer partners, Western Union. Western Union provides an opportunity for Nigerians in the diaspora to send funds to their families back home

  • Fast
  • Secure
  • Funds can be accessed via cash pickup at any Sterling branch nationwide.
  • Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN)
  • Amount
  • Acceptable means of ID
  • Receiver’s name, address, and phone number.
  • Sender’s name and country (city to be included)
  • Test questions and answers where applicable.
  • Funds can only be disbursed in Naira.

Accessible to both account holders and non-account holders above 18 years of age.

  • Permanent Voter’s Card
  • Driver’s License
  • National ID Card
  • International Passport.
WU Logo SVG 2024 optimized
MoneyGram Logo SVG

FAQs on Remittance

Ans: An individual customer can receive any amount. However, any amount above $10,000 or its naira equivalent should be reported to compliance.

Ans: An IMTO beneficiary can receive the naira equivalent of up to $200 in cash. Any

Ans: Acceptable means of ID for IMTO payments include:

  • Nigerian Driver’s license
  • Nigerian INEC Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC)
  • Nigerian Identity Management Commission (NIMC) ID card/Slip Validated
  • Bank Verification Number (BVN) and,
  • International Passport.

Please note that MoneyGram accepts ONLY validated Bank Verification Numbers.

Ans: Yes. Customers must provide the purpose of the transfer where applicable.

Ans: Yes. An international passport with a valid Visa and evidence of entry into Nigeria (immigration stamp) is acceptable for pickup.

This should be validated.

Ans: No, a foreign driver’s license is not an acceptable form of identification as it cannot be validated.

Ans: Yes. The beneficiary should provide all the requirements needed to open a savings account with Sterling Bank

Investments

doubble

With Doubble, you can invest short or long term in Naira or Dollars and earn interest of up to 60%. You can also take advantage of the online calculator to find out your monthly contributions and interest over a period.

i invest logo

I-invest is a mobile application which allows you purchase securities and treasury related instruments without a broker. The app is available 24/7 and you can track your investments anytime, anyday.

Mortgage

Mortgage

Work abroad and own property in Nigeria.Let’s help you finance your mortgage with little equity contribution and at low interest rates.

Call: +234(0)12797360
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]

All Forms

Download the appropriate form, complete and send to [email protected]

diaspora img 01

Please fill the form below indicating interest and a member of the team will contact you within 3 days.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Diaspora Banking Account is an account which enables Nigerians who live and work outside the country perform domestic and international transactions.

Anyone of Nigerian heritage who lives outside Nigeria.

You can open tier 3 savings accounts in Naira, USD, GBP and EUR. A tier 3 account is one that requires a valid ID & BVN. It also allows card transactions and operates with zero minimum balance.

  1. Switch; which can be used to open accounts, check balance, transfer money, pay bills, purchase airtime, etc.
  2. Debit cards: Verve and Mastercards (USD, GBP and Naira denominated). Virtual Mastercard and Verve cards are also coming to Switch.
  3.  

You can fund your account on Switch with any bank card in the world or via cash deposit at any Sterling Bank branch in Nigeria. You can use interbank transfers from Nigerian bank accounts.

Yes, please. Required steps are below:

  1. Fill the mandate form and provide the intended signatory’s BVN, passport photograph, valid means of identification and a signed letter instructing the Bank to include an additional signatory. Kindly click here to download the form.
  2. The completed form should be sent to [email protected]or [email protected]
  • BVN enrolment at any of Sterling Bank’s branches nationwide is free. However, enrolment with NIBSS partners (Online Integrated Services Inc.) requires payment and online appointment booking. Kindly visit www.oisservices.com to see a list of BVN centers abroad and book an appointment.
  • For BVN enrolment in the UK, Kindly contact of the under-listed agent:
    Thomas Ladipo – +447961978160, [email protected]
  • For BVN enrolment in Canada, kindly contact any of the under-listed agents:
    Opeyemi Adesina – +16135011140, [email protected]
    Bola Odusi – +16138693536, [email protected]
    John Adeyefa – +16136970860, [email protected]
  • For BVN enrolment in the USA, Kindly contact the under-listed agent:
    Francesca Kehinde – +18177109466 or +13472387507, [email protected]
  • For BVN enrolment in Egypt, Kindly contact the under-listed agent:
    Abubakar Dangi (Egypt) +201110244787

 

  • For BVN enrolment in Egypt, Kindly contact the under-listed agent:
    Abubakar Dangi (Egypt) +201110244787

Kindly fill the Naira debit card request form and we will be in touch to process your request.

 

You can reach our diaspora desk via email at [email protected] or [email protected] . Alternatively, you can call us on +234(0)12797360

Yes, please. Diaspora customers have access to Mortgage and other cash backed facilities subject to eligibility and approval. All you have to do is fill this indication of interest form and one of our service executives will get in touch with you.

 

Simply download Switch by Sterling from your AppStore or Google Play Store and open a wallet which can be upgraded to an account.

Switch is a free, easy to use financial services application created to ensure that anyone of Nigerian heritage can have secure and convenient access to the Nigerian Financial ecosystem no matter where they live.

There is no minimum account opening balance on Switch

  1. Valid Nigerian government issued means of Identification. If it has expired, a valid foreign ID (driver’s license or passport of country of residence) can be provided alongside the expired Nigerian ID. However, where there is no Nigerian ID (valid or expired) a notarized foreign driver’s license or passport of country of residence can be provided.
  2. A clear selfie
  3. Signature specimen
  4. Detailed address (a foreign bank statement or notarized utility bill not more than six months old can also suffice). 

You can send funds to your domiciliary account through our correspondent bank “Citibank” using the international wire transfer information below;

 

FOR POUNDS INTERNATIONAL WIRE TRANSFER 

BENEFICIARY BANK NAME: STERLING BANK PLC GBP DOM. A/C BENEFICIARY BANK SWIFT CODE: NAMENGLA 
BENEFICIARY BANK ACCOUNT NO: 05529859 
BENEFICIARY IBAN No: GB45CITI18500805529859 
CORRESPONDING BANK SORT CODE: 18 50 08 
CORRESPONDING BANK NAME: CITIBANK LONDON 

BENEFICIARY CUSTOMER NAME:
BENEFICIARY CUSTOMER ACCOUNT NUMBER:  

  

FOR USD INTERNATIONAL WIRE TRANSFERS 

ACCOUNT NAME: STERLING BANK PLC 
STERLING SWIFT CODE: NAMENGLA 
ACCOUNT NO: “Insert Sterling domiciliary Account Number”
BANK NAME: CITIBANK N.A., NEWYORK
ADDRESS: CITIBANK NEW YORK (HEAD OFFICE), 399 PARK  AVENUE, NEW YORK, NY 10043, U.S.A 

Beneficiary Account Name:  
Beneficiary Account Number:  

Note: All dollar transfers must be done as International wire transfers through your foreign Bank 

 

FOR EURO INTERNATIONAL WIRE TRANSFER 

BENEFICIARY BANK NAME: Sterling Bank Plc.
BENEFICIARY BANK IBAN NUMBER: GB53CITI 1850 0808663106
CORRESPONDENT BANK NAME: Citibank London 
CORRESPONDENT BANK SORT CODE: 18 50 08
STERLING SWIFT CODE: NAMENGLA 

BENEFICIARY CUSTOMER NAME: 
BENEFICIARY CUSTOMER ACCOUNT NUMBER:

Yes, please. Customers receive an interest of 1.15% on a Savings Diaspora Account, and 1% on Domiciliary accounts. This is however subject to review.

There are several investment options such as Discounted Certificate of Deposits, Fixed Deposit, Doubble by Sterling, i-invest, etc.

 

 

  • You can withdraw cash from your domiciliary account at any Sterling Bank branch in Nigeria or transfer to any foreign account (charges will apply depending on the mode of withdrawal).
  • You can also withdraw cash from your domiciliary account outside Nigeria using a Sterling Platinum Mastercard (denominated in USD) or Sterling Gold Mastercard (denominated in GBP).
  •  

Yes, you can. Kindly visit https://sterlingonlineaccount.sterling.ng/#/ to open a corporate account. All required documents are also listed on the website  

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