The United Kingdom (UK) is the best country to migrate to as a Nigerian.
Moving to the UK offers plenty of opportunities for quality education, job opportunities and access to world-class healthcare facilities.
A UK visa is the requirement to travel to the United Kingdom for whatever purpose as a Nigerian citizen.
The United Kingdom is the second home for Nigerians due to the colonial ties between the two nations.
This post would not highlight the perks of moving to the UK, as I have done justice to that in my article on the complete guide to studying in the United Kingdom (UK).
The of this post is to list the approved banks for UK visas in Nigeria.
Read other articles here about the United Kingdom using the links at the end of this post.
I wish you success as you begin moving to the United Kingdom.
UK Visa Payment in Nigeria
Since 2013, the UK British High Commission has made it compulsory for Nigerians to pay their visa application fees in the United States Dollar (USD) using their ATM card.
You do not need a dollar account for the UK visa fee—a Naira account, whether savings or current, can be used to make such payments.
Read my post on the UK Visa Categories and Fees to get more information on the type of permit you need for your application at the High Commission in Abuja.
Banks for UK Visa in Nigeria
Bank account financial statements are the most crucial United Kingdom (UK) visa requirement.
The visa officer at the British High Commission wants to ensure that you are financially capable of sustaining yourself in the UK.
They wouldn’t issue visas to an individual that would be a nuisance or financially handicapped in Great Britain.
The different UK visa categories have their financial requirements you can see here.
If you need more information or have further questions, let me know in the comment box.
The following is the list of approved banks for UK visas in Nigeria;
- Access Bank Plc
- Citibank Nigeria Limited
- Ecobank Nigeria Plc
- Fidelity Bank Plc
- FIRST BANK NIGERIA LIMITED
- First City Monument Bank Plc
- Globus Bank Limited
- Guaranty Trust Bank Plc
- Heritage Banking Company Ltd.
- Keystone Bank Limited
- Parallex Bank Ltd
- Polaris Bank Plc
- Premium Trust Bank
- Providus Bank
- STANBIC IBTC BANK PLC
- Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Ltd.
- Sterling Bank Plc
- SunTrust Bank Nigeria Limited
- Titan Trust Bank Ltd
- Union Bank of Nigeria Plc
- United Bank For Africa Plc
- Unity Bank Plc
- Wema Bank Plc
- Zenith Bank Plc
Let me know if you have any questions or need further clarification. I would love to assist you.
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Good morning sir. Please, I will like to confirm if Cooperative Mortgage Bank can be use for UK Visa POF? Thank you sir.
Yes, Cooperative Mortgage Bank (CMB) can be used for UK Visa Proof of Funds (POF). The UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) accepts bank statements from any recognized financial institution in Nigeria, as long as the statements meet the following requirements:
1. The statements must be on official bank letterhead or an electronic record.
2. The statements must show the applicant’s name, account number, and the balance of the account for the past 28 days.
3. The statements must not be older than 31 days at the time of submitting the visa application.
4. The statements must show that the applicant has met the minimum financial requirements for the type of visa they are applying for.
For example, the minimum financial requirement for a Standard Visitor Visa is £945. This means that the applicant must have had at least £945 in their bank account for the past 28 days.
If you are using a CMB statement for your UK Visa POF, you should ensure that the statement meets all of the above requirements. You should also be aware that the UKVI may ask for additional information about your finances, such as payslips or tax returns.
Gud am, am using a mortgage bank safe trust, is it acceptable?
A mortgage bank safe trust is not an acceptable financial document for a UK visa application. The UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) requires that you provide evidence of financial support in the form of a bank statement, letter of sponsorship, or other official document. A mortgage bank safe trust is not a government-issued document, and it does not provide clear proof of your financial resources.
The UKVI also requires that you have access to at least £1,890 per month for the duration of your stay in the UK. If you are using a mortgage bank safe trust to fund your visa application, you will need to show that you have enough money in the trust to cover your living expenses for at least 6 months.
Is microfinance bank not acceptable for proof of fund? what are the names?
Yes, microfinance banks are not acceptable as proof of funds for UK student visa applications. This is because the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) has had problems verifying the authenticity of bank statements from microfinance banks.
Hello,
Can I use microfinance Back Statement to apply at uk embassy?
Unfortunately, you cannot use a microfinance bank statement to apply for a UK visa. The UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) does not accept bank statements from microfinance banks because they are not considered to be reliable sources of financial information.
The UKVI requires that you provide bank statements from a mainstream bank that is regulated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The bank statement must show that you have the required amount of money to support yourself during your stay in the UK.
The amount of money you need will vary depending on the length of your stay and the cost of living in the UK. You can find more information about the financial requirements for a UK visa on the UKVI website.
If you do not have a bank statement from a mainstream bank, you may be able to use other documents to prove your financial situation.
Pls i want to know if uk still accept microfinance bank as proof of fund
Hello Ibrahim,
At the moment, I can only vouch for the banks listed in this post.
As long as the embassy can verify the bank statements, then you have no problem.
Good day Mr Olarewaju. Please how do I know the approved banks especially if Richway Microfinance and Cooperative Mortgage Bank is approved for UK Visa POF applications
The UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) website lists the approved banks for UK visa applications in Nigeria. Richway Microfinance and Cooperative Mortgage Bank is not listed on the UKVI website, so it is not an approved bank for UK visa applications.
Please is eslnce microfinance bank an approved bank for UKVI Pof?
Also, can you change the bank used for POF for CAS when applying for UK Visa application. This is after receiving CAS from the school with a different bank (microfinance bank)
No, Eslnce Microfinance Bank is not an approved bank for UKVI POF. The UKVI only accepts funds from banks that are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Eslnce Microfinance Bank is not regulated by the FCA.
Yes, you can change the bank used for POF for CAS when applying for a UK visa. However, you will need to get a new CAS from your school. The CAS will need to be updated with the new bank details.
To change the bank used for POF, you will need to do the following:
1. Contact your school and request a new CAS with the updated bank details.
2. Provide your school with the following information:
The name of the new bank
The account number
The sort code
The name of the account holder
Your school will then update the CAS and send it to you.
Can we get list of approved Microfinance banks
Omotanwa,
You can use any of the approved Microfinance banks for your UKVI.
Hello Olanrewaju, please i want to know if Polaris is easily accessible by ukvi. Do they attend to calls and mails urgently.
Yes,
Polaris bank is accessible by UKVI.
I believe their customer care is responsive.
Good morning, I’m using a Microfinance banks.. is it acceptable?
Hello Suleiman
Visit the microfinance bank of your choice to make the necessary inquires.
Dear Abubakar, was your microfinance bank acceptable? I intend starting mine