Is it safe to share bank details with family abroad?

The short answer

Yes, if you share only what the sender needs. To receive money from Cowris, a person shares a few account details. They never share a password or a code.

• To receive naira in Nigeria: the bank name and the 10-digit account number.
• To receive Canadian dollars in Canada: first name, last name and an Interac email.

Nobody needs your password, your sign-in codes or the codes we text or email you. If someone asks for those, stop.

This guide covers both sides: the person who sends and the person who receives.

What a sender needs from you

The details depend on the direction of the transfer.

That is all. The sender can add a note, but it is optional.

What you never share

Some details are for you alone. Keep them private, even with family.

• Your password. Nobody else needs it to send you money.
• Codes we text or email you. These codes prove it is you. Never pass them on.
• Your sign-in. Do not let anyone use your phone to sign in to your account.

Cowris will never ask you for your password or a code we send you. Not by phone, text, email or chat. If a message asks for them, it is not from us.

When you write to our support team, do not send your password or the codes we email or text you.

How the sender checks your details

For a Nigerian bank account, Cowris looks up the account when the sender types the number. The sender sees Checking the account…, then the account name with a green tick. The sender checks that this name is your name before they go on.

So give your name the way your bank has it. If your bank lists your names in a different order, say so. It helps the sender match the name they see.

For more on this check, read how to check a Nigerian bank account before you send money.

For an Interac email, the sender types the email you give. One wrong letter sends the money to the wrong place. So spell it out with care.

How to share your details

A few simple habits lower the risk of mistakes.

1. Write it down. Send your details as a text message, not only in a voice call. Typed details are easier to copy right.
2. Send it once, from your usual number. Your family knows it is you.
3. Read it back. Before you send the message, check every digit of the account number, or every letter of the email.
4. Say which bank. Give the full bank name, so the sender picks the right one from the list.
5. Tell them when it changes. If you open a new account or change your email, tell the sender before their next transfer.

When to be careful

Scams often use family ties. A message can look like it comes from a relative, but it does not.

Watch for these signs:

• New details out of the blue. A message says "Use this new account" with no reason. Call the person on a number you already know and check.
• Pressure to hurry. A message says the money must go now. Real family can wait a few minutes while you check.
• A request for codes. Someone asks for a code that was texted to you. Never share it.
• A link to "confirm" your details. Do not tap it. Open the Cowris app or website yourself.

If something feels wrong, stop and check. Read how to spot a fake transfer or payment scam for more signs.

For the sender: check before you pay

If you are the one who sends, a short check protects both of you.

1. Type the details your recipient gave you, or pick them from Saved recipients.
2. For a Nigerian account, look at the account name we show. Make sure it is the right person.
3. On the website, if the account name is different from the name you saved, we warn you. Stop and check the bank and account number.
4. On the review screen, check the recipient's details again.

Money sent to the wrong account may not come back. Check every detail.

Save your recipient

When you send, tick Save this recipient. Next time, find them under Saved recipients and tap to fill in the form. This means you do not type the details again. You still check the account name each time.

Pay from your own account

The sender pays from their own bank account, in their own name. The name on the account must be the same as the name on their Cowris account. Do not pay from a friend's, family member's or company's account. If the names do not match, we may hold the transfer while our team checks it.

This also means you should not ask a relative to pay for your transfer from their account. Each person sends from their own account.

If you think your details were misused

• If you think someone used your Cowris account, change your password and tell us at once at help@cowris.com.
• If a message asked for your codes and you shared one, change your password and contact us.

Tell your family too. A warning from you can stop the same trick on them.

The rate and fees

There are zero fees on every Cowris route. See the current rate in the app. Your rate is held for up to 60 minutes once you start a transfer.