Prepare safely to reactivate an inactive account, update registered contacts and review the account before placing new money in it.
A dormant account is not automatically closed, but normal access may be restricted until the bank verifies the owner and completes its current reactivation procedure. Do not send a fee to a personal account or accept help from someone who promises to “wake” the account without the bank.
Begin by asking the bank to define the status. Inactive, dormant, restricted and transferred unclaimed balances are different situations. The documents and available channels can also depend on how long the account has been unused and whether its registered information is still current.
Confirm the account and the institution
Use contact information obtained from the bank’s official website, app or a known branch. Give only the details required to locate the account. Ask whether reactivation can be completed through an authenticated digital channel or requires an in-person identity check.
Prepare for identity and contact review
- Valid identification accepted by the bank.
- The account number and name currently held on the account.
- The registered phone number and email, including any that are no longer controlled.
- Address or KYC evidence requested through the bank’s official checklist.
- A specimen signature or biometric step where the institution requires it.
Do not alter several identity records just because one field differs. Ask the bank to identify the exact inconsistency and the legitimate correction route.
Review security before adding money
After a long period without use, confirm the registered phone, email, app devices, cards and recent account history. Report any unfamiliar entry. Change access credentials through the bank’s authenticated process and make a modest ordinary test only after the bank confirms that access is restored.
Dormant balance and unclaimed-funds questions
The CBN published updated dormant-account materials in March 2026. The Bank’s circular feed describes secure reactivation channels and distinguishes ordinary reactivation from cases involving transferred unclaimed balances. Because the applicable route is account-specific, ask the holding bank whether the funds remain with it and obtain a written checklist.
Evidence that reactivation is complete
Keep the submission acknowledgement, the bank’s confirmation and the date. Test balance access and alerts before relying on the account for an urgent transfer. A verbal promise from an unofficial agent is not completion evidence.
Remote reactivation and a branch visit are not interchangeable
A bank may provide a secure remote route for some customers while requiring a branch visit where identity, signature or transferred unclaimed balances need additional review. Confirm the exact channel before travelling or uploading documents. A web form is not official merely because it carries a bank logo.
If the bank says funds have moved under an unclaimed-balance process, ask for the applicable recovery steps and acknowledgement. Do not open a new account under altered details simply to bypass the old record; that can create another identity inconsistency.
Official sources reviewed
Reviewed 5 August 2026. Obtain the institution’s current requirements before travelling or submitting identity documents.
Verification record
- Last fact-check
- August 5, 2026
- Method
- Line-by-line editorial review against the established and held article inventories; claims limited to cited official sources.
- Reviewed by
- Nigeria USSD Codes Editorial Team
Primary official sources:
Article note
Last reviewed: August 5, 2026. This independent guide is informational and does not replace instructions from your bank, telecom provider, regulator, or service provider. Verify sensitive actions through an official channel before sending money or sharing information.
Nigeria USSD Codes Editorial Team
Nigeria USSD CodesThe Nigeria USSD Codes Editorial Team researches, reviews and maintains practical guides using official provider and regulator sources where available. Corrections are checked before publication, and sensitive actions are directed back to the responsible provider.