How to check a Nigerian bank account before you send money

Check the account before you pay. It takes one minute and prevents the most costly mistake. This guide shows what you need from your recipient, how the account name check works, and what to do if something looks wrong.

Why this check matters

When you send money to a bank account, the bank number decides where the money goes. One wrong digit can send it to a stranger. Money sent to the wrong account may not come back.

So we show you the name on the account before you pay. Your job is to compare it with the name you expect.

What you need from your recipient

Ask your recipient for:

• the name of their bank,
• their 10-digit account number,
• the name on the account, spelled as the bank has it.

Ask them to send these in writing, or to read them to you on a call you start. Do not copy details from a message you were not expecting.

How the check works in SendCowris

1. Start a transfer and choose CAD to NGN.
2. Enter the amount and tap Continue.
3. Search for the bank and tap it.
4. Type the 10-digit account number.
5. The app looks up the account. You see "Checking the account…". Then you see the account name with a green tick.
6. Compare the name with your recipient's name.

If the name is right, continue. If it is not, stop.

Name check: what to compare

Compare the full name, not just the first name. Banks may show names in a different order, or in capital letters. A small difference in order is common. A different person's name is not.

Ask yourself:

• Is this the person I mean to pay?
• Is the order of the names different, or are they different people?
• Does the name include a business name when I expected a person?

When in doubt, ask your recipient to confirm the name on their bank app or their bank statement.

If the name does not match

Do not send. Follow these steps:

1. Read the account number again. Check each digit against what your recipient gave you.
2. Check the bank. Two banks can have accounts with similar numbers.
3. Ask your recipient to confirm both details.
4. If the name is still wrong, do not send. Ask the person who gave you the details why.

If the details came from a stranger, a message you did not expect, or someone who pressed you to hurry, treat it as a possible scam. Read how to spot a fake transfer or payment scam.

If the account lookup fails

Sometimes the app cannot find the account. This can happen when the bank does not respond, or when a digit is wrong. Check the number first. Try again in a minute. If it still fails, contact help@cowris.com before you pay. Do not guess.

Save your recipient

Once you are sure, tick "Save this recipient". Next time, you find them under "Saved recipients" and tap their name. The form fills in.

Check the details again each time, even for a saved recipient. On the website, if the account name now differs from the name you saved, we warn you. Check the bank and number before you send.

Share the right details with us

Two more things help:

• Use your own bank account to pay. Use an Interac e-Transfer from your account, in your own name.
• Add the transfer code to the e-Transfer message. See send money to Nigeria with Interac e-Transfer.

Look after your recipient's details

Account numbers are private. Do not post them in public groups. Do not share a screenshot of a transfer with the full number in a public place.

Common mistakes

Avoid these slips:

• Mixing up two digits. Read the number back to your recipient, one digit at a time.
• Choosing the wrong bank. Some banks have similar names. Pick the one your recipient named.
• Using an old number. Ask for the details again if your recipient changed banks or opened a new account.
• Trusting a forwarded number. Get the details from your recipient, not from a third person.
• Skipping the name check because you are in a hurry. The check takes seconds. A wrong transfer can take much longer to fix, if it can be fixed at all.

A short checklist

1. I have the bank, the 10-digit number and the name.
2. I typed the number myself, digit by digit.
3. The app shows the account name.
4. The name is the person I mean to pay.
5. I saved the recipient.
6. I checked the amount and what they get.

Start with the check

Open the app, begin a transfer and enter an account number. You can see the account name before you pay.

Get the SendCowris app

FAQ

How many digits is a Nigerian bank account number? Ten digits. SendCowris asks for a 10-digit account number.

What do I do if the account name does not match my recipient? Do not send. Check the bank and the number with your recipient. Fix any wrong digit first.

Can I save my recipient for next time? Yes. Tick "Save this recipient". Next time you tap their name and the form fills in.

Can I get my money back if I send it to the wrong account? Money sent to the wrong account may not come back. That is why you check the name before you pay.

SendCowris is run by Cowris Technologies. Last updated 30 October 2026.