Send money to Nigeria with Interac e-Transfer

Interac e-Transfer is how you pay for a SendCowris transfer. You send the e-Transfer from your own Canadian bank. We send naira to your recipient's bank account in Nigeria. This guide shows how the e-Transfer step works and how to avoid the common mistakes.

How the two parts fit together

There are two parts:

1. You pay us in Canada. You send an Interac e-Transfer in Canadian dollars (CAD) from your bank app.
2. We pay your recipient in Nigeria. We send naira (NGN) to their bank account.

Your e-Transfer does not go to your recipient. It goes to SendCowris. We match it to your transfer, then we send the naira.

Before you pay

You need:

• a verified SendCowris account,
• a transfer you started in the app, with the recipient's bank details,
• a Canadian bank account that can send Interac e-Transfers, in your own name.

Your bank may have its own e-Transfer limits. They can be lower than ours. One SendCowris transfer can be from CA$20 to CA$9,990. Check your bank's limit before you start. Your bank may also charge a fee for an e-Transfer. SendCowris charges no fee.

The e-Transfer screen, line by line

After you review your transfer, choose "Pay by Interac e-Transfer". The screen shows a countdown and four parts. Tap each one to copy it.

1. Amount. Send exactly this amount. Not more and not less. A different amount can delay your payment.

2. Email. This is the address your e-Transfer goes to. Copy it from the screen. Do not type it from memory.

3. Security question and answer. Banks ask you to set a question and answer when you send an e-Transfer. Copy both from the screen, exactly as shown. Always use what is on your screen, because it can change.

4. Message. This holds your transfer code. Paste it into the message box of your e-Transfer. This is how we match your payment to your transfer. It is the step people forget most often.

First time only: save Cowris as a contact

The first time, the screen says "First time? Save Cowris as a contact". In your bank app, open Interac e-Transfer and add a contact. Use the name and email shown on the screen. Then tap "Done, I've saved it". Next time, you pick Cowris from your list.

Send it, then tell us

1. Open your own bank app.
2. Go to Interac e-Transfer and choose to send money.
3. Pick the Cowris contact. Enter the exact amount.
4. Add the security question and answer from the screen.
5. Paste the transfer code in the message.
6. Send it from your own account.
7. Go back to SendCowris and tap "I've sent it".

The app now says "We're watching for your payment". Bank payments can take a few minutes to reach us. You can leave the screen. Open Transactions and tap your transfer to see where it is.

If the countdown ends before you pay, the screen says "Time's up". If you already sent the money, tap "I've sent it" and we keep watching for it. If you have not sent it, start a new transfer.

Pay from your own account

Send the e-Transfer from your own bank account, in your own name. The name on the account should match the name on your SendCowris account.

Do not pay from a friend's, a family member's or a company's account. If the names do not match, we may hold your transfer while our team checks it.

What makes an e-Transfer fail

An e-Transfer can fail, and your bank gives the money back. This can happen if:

• the security answer is typed differently,
• the email is wrong,
• the payment comes from an account that is not in your name.

Copy and paste instead of typing. It avoids most of these.

If your e-Transfer was returned

1. Check your bank. Make sure the money is back in your account.
2. Do not tap "I've sent it" for a payment that came back.
3. Start a new transfer in SendCowris. Copy every detail from the new screen.
4. If your money left your account and you do not see it back, write to help@cowris.com. Add a screenshot.

If you forgot the transfer code

Do not send the money again. Write to help@cowris.com at once. Include your transfer code, the amount, the time you paid, and a screenshot from your bank. Our team will try to match your payment by hand.

You can find your code again. Open Transactions, tap your transfer, then tap "Pay now" or "See payment details". The code is on the line called Message. We also email you the details when you start a transfer.

Never pay twice

If you are unsure, do not send a second e-Transfer. Check the status in Transactions first. Then write to us. Two payments for one transfer is the hardest problem to fix.

What happens after we get your payment

When your payment arrives, the status moves to "Payment received". Then it moves to "Sending to recipient". When your recipient has the money, it says "Completed". You can then open your receipt.

For the full path from sign-up to receipt, read how to send money to Nigeria from Canada.

Try it

Start a transfer in the app and look at the e-Transfer screen. You can see each line before you pay.

Get the SendCowris app

FAQ

Can I send money to Nigeria with Interac e-Transfer? With SendCowris, you pay for your transfer by Interac e-Transfer from your Canadian bank. Your recipient gets naira in a Nigerian bank account.

Where do I put the transfer code? Paste it in the message box of your e-Transfer. We use it to match your payment to your transfer.

Can I pay from my friend's bank account? No. Pay from your own bank account, in your own name. If the names do not match, we may hold your transfer.

My e-Transfer was returned. What now? Check that the money is back in your bank account. Do not tap "I've sent it". Start a new transfer and copy every detail from the screen.

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