List of Approved Banks for UK Visa in Nigeria 2026

If you are applying for a UK visa from Nigeria, your bank statement is not just another document.

It can affect the whole application.

Many applicants search for the list of approved banks for UK visa in Nigeria because they want to know which bank statement UKVI may accept for proof of funds. That is a smart question to ask before you move your money.

But here’s the thing: the bank name alone is not enough.

Your funds must be in the right type of account. Your bank statement must be clear. The money must stay there for the required period. And UKVI must be able to verify the evidence if they decide to check.

This guide gives you an updated list of UK visa approved banks in Nigeria, explains the 28-day bank statement rule, shows what proof of funds should look like, and points out old bank names or account types you should recheck before applying.

Approved Banks for UK Visa in Nigeria

“Approved banks for UK visa in Nigeria” usually means banks whose statements are commonly accepted or widely used for UK visa financial evidence.

For most applicants, the safer option is to use a regulated Nigerian commercial bank with proper electronic records, clear statement formatting, and reliable customer support. You can also check the NDIC list of commercial banks to confirm whether a Nigerian bank is listed as a commercial bank.

Still, do not treat any online list as a permanent visa guarantee.

UKVI rules can change. Banks can merge. Licences can be revoked. Statement formats can vary. A bank may be well known, but if your statement is unclear or hard to verify, the application can still face problems.

The short answer is this: choose a bank that is regulated, easy to verify, and able to provide a clean bank statement for visa purposes.

Updated List of UK Visa Approved Banks in Nigeria

The banks below are commonly referenced for UK visa proof of funds in Nigeria and are mainstream Nigerian commercial banks or widely used financial institutions.

Use this list as a safer starting point, then confirm with the bank before keeping your visa funds there.

No.	Bank Name	Practical Note
1	Access Bank Plc	Commonly used for UK visa proof of funds
2	Citibank Nigeria Limited	International banking presence
3	Ecobank Nigeria Limited	Commonly referenced in UKVI bank lists
4	Fidelity Bank Plc	Often used by student visa applicants
5	First Bank of Nigeria Limited	One of Nigeria’s major commercial banks
6	First City Monument Bank Limited	Also known as FCMB
7	Globus Bank Limited	Commonly listed, but confirm before use
8	Guaranty Trust Bank Limited	Also known as GTBank or GTCO
9	Keystone Bank Limited	Commonly referenced by education advisers
10	Parallex Bank Limited	Confirm statement format before deposit
11	Polaris Bank Limited	Commonly used by personal account holders
12	Premium Trust Bank	Appears in recent UK visa bank references
13	Providus Bank Plc	Often used for personal and business banking
14	Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc	Strong commercial banking presence
15	Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited	International banking presence
16	Sterling Bank Plc	Commonly used by Nigerian applicants
17	SunTrust Bank Nigeria Limited	Confirm before using for visa funds
18	Titan Trust Bank Limited	Appears in recent adviser lists
19	Union Bank of Nigeria Plc	Longstanding Nigerian commercial bank
20	United Bank for Africa Plc	Also known as UBA
21	Unity Bank Plc	Confirm statement requirements before use
22	Wema Bank Plc	Commonly used for personal banking
23	Zenith Bank Plc	One of the most common choices

This list is not the same thing as a visa approval.

It only helps you start from a safer place. Your statement still needs to meet UK visa financial evidence rules.

Old Bank Names to Recheck Before You Apply

This section matters because many older articles still show bank names that can confuse applicants.

A list that was useful two or three years ago may not be safe today.

For example, Diamond Bank should not appear as a separate current bank. According to Access Bank’s history page, Access Bank completed its merger with Diamond Bank in 2019. If you see Diamond Bank in an old UKVI bank list, use current Access Bank details instead.

Heritage Bank is another important name to avoid for new proof of funds. The NDIC has published updates on Heritage Bank in liquidation after the revocation of its banking licence. You can check the NDIC Heritage Bank liquidation update before relying on any old list that still mentions it.

You should also recheck old references to HSBC Nigeria, African Finance Corporation, Diamond Bank, or any institution that does not clearly provide a personal bank statement for visa funds.

This is not about making the list longer.

It is about making the list safer.

What Makes a Bank Statement Acceptable for UK Visa?

UKVI does not only look at the name of the bank.

They look at the financial evidence.

According to GOV.UK financial evidence guidance, your money can be held in a personal bank or building society account, such as a current account or savings account. If you use your own money, the account must be under your control. If you use your parent’s or partner’s money, the account must be under their control.

Your bank statement should clearly show:

• your full name
• the bank name
• your account number
• the closing balance
• the statement date
• transaction history
• enough money held for the required period
• proper electronic or official bank records

Think about it this way.

A visa officer should be able to read your statement and quickly understand who owns the account, how much money is there, how long the money stayed there, and whether the document can be verified.

If that is not clear, fix the statement before you apply.

For a deeper checklist, read this guide on what makes a UK visa bank statement strong enough to submit.

UK Student Visa Proof of Funds from Nigeria

For a UK Student visa, you usually need to show money for two things:

1. unpaid course fees shown on your CAS
2. living costs for your stay in the UK

Current GOV.UK guidance lists the student living cost requirement as:

Study Location	Living Cost Requirement
In London	£1,529 per month, up to 9 months
Outside London	£1,171 per month, up to 9 months

Do not copy a fixed Naira amount from an old blog post.

Exchange rates change. GOV.UK says foreign currency is converted into British pounds using the OANDA spot exchange rate on the date of application. So your Naira amount should be calculated close to your application date.

Here is a simple example.

If your unpaid tuition fee is £4,000 and you will study outside London for a course longer than 9 months, you may need to show £4,000 plus £10,539 for living costs. That total is £14,539 before currency conversion. The final Naira amount depends on the exchange rate on your application date.

Small difference. Big consequence.

If you are still planning the full process, this guide on preparing to study in the UK as an international student can help you understand the bigger journey beyond bank statements.

How the 28-Day Bank Statement Rule Works

The 28-day rule is one of the most important parts of UK visa proof of funds.

Your required money must stay in the account for 28 days in a row. The balance should not drop below the required amount during that period.

Not even for one day.

Your financial evidence must also be dated no more than 31 days before the date you submit your visa application. UK Immigration Rules Appendix Finance explains that the period is counted back from the closing balance date on the most recent piece of financial evidence. You can read the official rule in Appendix Finance.

Here is how it works.

If your bank statement closing balance date is 30 June, UKVI counts back from that date. Your money should have stayed at or above the required amount for the full 28-day period. If your balance dropped below the required amount on 18 June, the count may break.

In that case, you may need to wait and start the 28-day period again.

I have seen students rush at this stage because their CAS is ready and classes are close. The pressure is real. But submitting too early is usually more dangerous than waiting a few more days.

How UKVI Verifies Bank Statements

UKVI may contact your bank to verify your financial evidence.

They may check whether the account exists, whether the statement is real, whether the funds were available, and whether the details match your application.

If UKVI cannot verify the evidence, your visa application may be refused.

This is why edited bank statements, screenshots, unclear PDFs, unverifiable accounts, and sudden unexplained deposits can create problems. Even if the bank is commonly used, weak financial evidence can still make the application risky.

If you have already faced a refusal, review how weak documents may affect your next UK visa application after refusal before you submit again.

Banks Not Accepted by UKVI in Nigeria

Many applicants also search for banks not accepted by UKVI in Nigeria.

The safer answer is this: avoid any account or financial institution that cannot clearly meet UKVI financial evidence rules.

Be careful with:

• microfinance banks
• mobile money wallets
• fintech wallets
• crypto-related funds
• business accounts that do not clearly belong to the applicant or sponsor
• accounts without electronic record keeping
• accounts that cannot provide a proper bank statement
• institutions that cannot verify your statement if UKVI contacts them

This does not mean every digital account is automatically refused.

But for visa proof of funds, “easy to use” is not the same as “safe to submit.” That is the counterintuitive part. A simple commercial bank statement may be safer than a modern-looking app account if the app account cannot produce evidence UKVI can verify.

Use a bank that can give you a full, dated, verifiable statement.

That is the safer route.

Is Globus Bank Accepted by UKVI?

Globus Bank appears in many recent UKVI approved banks in Nigeria lists. It is also listed as a commercial bank by Nigerian banking sources.

Still, confirm before using it.

Ask the bank whether they can provide a proper statement for visa purposes. Make sure the statement shows your full name, account number, bank name, statement dates, transaction history, and closing balance.

If the branch cannot explain the format clearly, ask another branch or use a bank with more visa statement experience.

Do this before your 28-day period starts.

Is OPay, Kuda, Moniepoint, or PalmPay Accepted for UK Visa?

Do not rely on OPay, Kuda, Moniepoint, PalmPay, or similar digital wallet accounts for UK visa proof of funds unless you have verified that the evidence will be accepted for your visa route.

Many students keep money in digital apps because they are convenient. That makes sense for everyday use.

Visa evidence is different.

UKVI needs financial evidence that is regulated, accessible, properly recorded, and verifiable. If the account cannot provide a standard bank statement that UKVI can check, it may create risk.

For proof of funds, most applicants are safer using a mainstream Nigerian commercial bank.

Can You Use Your Parent’s Bank Statement?

Yes, many UK Student visa applicants use a parent’s bank statement.

But you need extra documents.

You usually need:

• your parent’s bank statement
• your birth certificate or proof of relationship
• a signed consent letter from your parent
• evidence that the money is available for your study
• a statement that meets the 28-day rule

Do not submit a parent’s statement without proving the relationship. UKVI needs to see why you are allowed to use that money.

If the funds are from a sponsor, student loan, or scholarship, the documents may be different.

Students looking for funding support can explore scholarship options for Nigerian students planning to study in the UK before arranging proof of funds.

Can You Use a Student Loan for UK Visa Proof of Funds?

Yes, you may be able to use a student loan if it meets UKVI requirements.

The loan letter should usually confirm that the loan is for your study, the amount available, your name, the lender’s details, and when the money will be available. The loan should come from an accepted source, such as a government, government-sponsored loan company, or regulated student loan scheme.

Do not assume a normal personal loan will work.

If you are comparing funding routes, review study abroad loan options students often consider before choosing how to show funds.

How to Choose the Right Bank for UK Visa Proof of Funds

Choose the bank before you start the 28-day count.

That sounds obvious, but many applicants do the opposite. They keep money wherever it is convenient, then panic when they realise the statement format is weak.

A good bank for UK visa evidence should:

• provide a clear bank statement
• keep reliable electronic records
• offer official PDF or stamped statement options
• have responsive customer support
• be easy to verify
• have experience with student visa applicants

The best bank is not always the one with the nicest app.

For visa purposes, boring can be better. A plain, clear, verifiable bank statement is often safer than a modern account that creates questions.

Common Mistakes Nigerian Applicants Should Avoid

The most common mistake is submitting too early.

The money enters the account. The student waits “about a month.” Then they submit the visa application without checking the exact closing balance date.

That can break the 28-day rule.

Other mistakes include:

• using an old bank list
• using a statement older than 31 days
• showing less money than required
• using a fixed old Naira amount
• submitting screenshots instead of proper statements
• using a digital wallet without verification
• forgetting parent consent documents
• ignoring a one-day balance drop
• using funds that are not immediately accessible

One small issue can delay the process.

Two or three small issues can make the application look risky.

Documents You May Need with Your Bank Statement

Your exact documents depend on your visa route, but UK Student visa applicants may need:

• CAS details
• bank statement
• tuition fee payment receipt, if already paid
• parent consent letter, if using parent funds
• birth certificate, if using parent funds
• scholarship or sponsorship letter, if sponsored
• student loan letter, if using a loan
• currency conversion check based on the application date

Keep these documents consistent.

Your name, dates, amount, course details, and sponsor information should not create confusion.

Quick Pre-Submission Checklist

Before you submit your UK visa application, check these points:

• Is your bank commonly accepted and easy to verify?
• Is your statement dated within 31 days of application?
• Did the required balance stay in the account for 28 days in a row?
• Did you calculate the amount using current exchange rates?
• Does the statement show your name, bank name, account number, date, and balance?
• If using parent funds, did you add consent and relationship proof?
• If using a loan or sponsorship, does the letter meet your visa route requirement?
• Is the money immediately available?

If one answer is unclear, fix it before you apply.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the list of approved banks for UK visa in Nigeria?

The commonly referenced list includes Access Bank, Citibank Nigeria, Ecobank, Fidelity Bank, First Bank, FCMB, Globus Bank, GTBank, Keystone Bank, Parallex Bank, Polaris Bank, Premium Trust Bank, Providus Bank, Stanbic IBTC, Standard Chartered, Sterling Bank, SunTrust Bank, Titan Trust Bank, Union Bank, UBA, Unity Bank, Wema Bank, and Zenith Bank. Always confirm with the bank before depositing visa funds.

Are all Nigerian banks accepted by UKVI?

No. You should use a regulated bank or financial institution that can provide proper, verifiable financial evidence. Avoid accounts that cannot produce a clear bank statement or cannot be verified.

How much bank balance is required for a UK Student visa from Nigeria?

You need enough money for unpaid course fees plus living costs. Current living cost requirements are £1,529 per month in London and £1,171 per month outside London, up to 9 months. Convert the total into Naira using the exchange rate on your application date.

How long must money stay in my account?

The required money must stay in the account for 28 days in a row. The balance should not fall below the required amount during that time.

How old can my bank statement be?

Your financial evidence must be dated no more than 31 days before your visa application date.

Can UKVI verify my bank statement?

Yes. UKVI may verify your financial evidence with your bank. If they cannot verify the evidence, your application may be refused.

Is Globus Bank accepted by UKVI?

Globus Bank is commonly listed among banks used for UK visa proof of funds in Nigeria. However, confirm with the bank and make sure the statement format is clear and verifiable before using it.

Is OPay accepted for UK visa proof of funds?

Do not rely on OPay or similar digital wallets unless you have confirmed that the financial evidence will be accepted for your visa route. A mainstream commercial bank is usually safer.

Is Kuda accepted for UK visa proof of funds?

Do not use Kuda for UK visa proof of funds without specific confirmation. UKVI needs verifiable financial evidence from an acceptable financial institution.

Is Moniepoint accepted for UK visa proof of funds?

Do not rely on Moniepoint unless you have confirmed that it can provide acceptable and verifiable financial evidence for your visa application.

Can I use my father’s or mother’s bank statement?

Yes, if the account belongs to your parent and you provide the required supporting documents, such as proof of relationship and written consent.

Is Diamond Bank still on the UKVI approved bank list?

Diamond Bank should not appear as a separate current bank because it merged with Access Bank. Use Access Bank’s current details instead.

Is Heritage Bank accepted for UK visa in Nigeria?

Do not use Heritage Bank for new UK visa proof of funds. Its banking licence was revoked, and NDIC has treated it as a bank in liquidation.

Before You Apply

Use a bank that can give you a clean, verifiable statement.

Keep the funds stable for the full 28 days. Check the statement date. Use current exchange rates. Avoid old bank lists. Do not wait until the last week to discover that your statement format is weak.

For UK visa proof of funds, the safest document is not the most complicated one.

It is the one UKVI can verify without confusion.