Three leading commercial banks in Nigeria United Bank for Africa (UBA), Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), and Wema Bank have announced the resumption of international transactions on their naira-denominated debit cards, nearly three years after suspending the service due to foreign exchange (FX) pressures.
In separate communications to customers this week, the banks confirmed that their naira cards can once again be used for online payments, international POS purchases, and ATM withdrawals outside Nigeria.
UBA Enables Global Access for Premium Naira Cardholders
In a statement, UBA said the move aligns with its commitment to providing customers with a seamless and flexible banking experience.
“All UBA Premium Naira Cards, including Gold, Platinum, and World variants, are now enabled for international transactions,” the bank said.
Customers can now make everyday payments, shop online globally, and use their cards on ATMs and POS terminals worldwide.
“If you haven’t used your card recently, now’s a great time to rediscover the convenience and prestige that comes with being a UBA Premium cardholder,” the notice added.
Wema Bank: “Your Naira Mastercard Just Went Global”
Wema Bank also announced the reactivation of its naira Mastercard for international use, highlighting its compatibility with popular platforms such as Amazon, eBay, AliExpress, Netflix, Spotify, and YouTube.
“Your Wema Naira Mastercard just went global! Now you can pay in dollars on all your favourite international platforms,” the bank said in a promotional message.
GTBank Sets Quarterly Limits for Overseas Use
GTBank, in an email to customers, confirmed that its naira debit card can now be used for international payments but with limits. Customers are allowed to spend up to $1,000 per quarter, which includes $500 for ATM withdrawals and $1,000 for POS and online payments.
“This quarterly limit covers all international transactions including ATM withdrawals abroad and purchases on global websites,” the bank noted.
A Gradual Recovery After FX Crunch
The move marks a reversal from the widespread suspension of international card services between 2022 and early 2023, when multiple banks including GTBank, First Bank, Zenith Bank, and Standard Chartered halted overseas card use due to a chronic shortage of foreign currency.
During that period, financial technology firms such as Flutterwave and Eversend also suspended their virtual card offerings for international transactions.
With the recent return of international functionality, customers now have more flexibility and convenience but with cautiously imposed limits as the FX market continues to stabilize.
