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Nigeria SWIFT/BIC code validator
How the SWIFT/BIC code format works
- Format
- 8 or 11-character bank identifier code, country code NG in positions 5-6
- Example
- ZEIBNGLA
Things to watch for
- Structure: 4-letter bank code + NG (country) + 2-character location code, plus an optional 3-character branch code
- An 8-character code (or one ending XXX) refers to the bank's head office in Lagos, Nigeria's financial capital — most major banks share LA as the location code
- No checksum digit — this is a format check only; it confirms positions 5-6 read NG, not that the bank or branch actually exists
^[A-Z]{4}NG[A-Z0-9]{2}([A-Z0-9]{3})?$A Nigerian SWIFT/BIC code identifies the bank on an international wire transfer into or out of Nigeria. Nigeria doesn’t use IBANs, so on a cross-border payment the BIC works alongside the recipient’s 10-digit NUBAN account number rather than a single combined identifier. Every Nigerian BIC has NG fixed at positions 5-6, right after the 4-letter bank code, and the country’s largest banks all anchor their SWIFT head office in Lagos.
Major Nigerian bank BIC prefixes
| Bank | BIC | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Zenith Bank | ZEIBNGLA | Lagos |
| Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) | GTBINGLA | Lagos |
| First Bank of Nigeria | FBNINGLA | Lagos |
| Access Bank | ABNGNGLA | Lagos |
How this validator works
This tool checks that the code is 8 or 11 characters, the first 4 characters are letters, positions 5-6 read NG, and the location and optional branch segments use only letters and digits — entirely client-side, with nothing sent to a server.
What a pass doesn’t tell you
A pass confirms the code fits the Nigerian BIC pattern, not that ZEIB, GTBI, FBNI, or ABNG still names an operating bank, or that the branch suffix is current. A BIC has no checksum digit, so a fabricated code that matches the shape still validates.
Scope: format validation only. It says nothing about the accompanying NUBAN account number entered alongside it on a Nigerian transfer.
SWIFT/BIC code FAQ
What's the SWIFT code format for a Nigerian bank?
A Nigerian BIC is 8 or 11 characters: a 4-letter bank code, NG fixed at positions 5-6, a 2-character location code, and an optional 3-character branch code — for example GTBINGLA for Guaranty Trust Bank.
Why do most Nigerian BICs end in LA?
LA is the SWIFT location code for Lagos, Nigeria's commercial and financial capital, where nearly every major Nigerian bank registers its head office — the country's federal capital, Abuja, isn't part of the standard location codes.
Is a SWIFT/BIC code the same as a Nigerian account number?
No. Nigerian banks use a 10-digit NUBAN account number for domestic transfers; the SWIFT/BIC code identifies the bank itself for cross-border wires, and Nigeria does not issue IBANs.