Photo Credit: The Punch
2025-12-25 09:15:00
In an update published by The Punch, FirstBank says its ATMs will be enabled to accept international cards in line with a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) directive, a step aimed at improving foreign-card usability for travelers and visitors. The bank said the change is part of broader compliance work across Nigeria’s payment infrastructure.
For customers, the biggest impact is convenience: foreign-issued cards should be able to withdraw cash (where permitted) and complete ATM transactions more smoothly, reducing friction for diaspora visitors and business travelers—especially during peak travel seasons.
For banks and switching/payment processors, the directive implies backend reconfiguration, routing, and compliance checks to ensure international schemes work reliably across channels.
Supporting reports show the regulator set deadlines and scope: Vanguard quoted the directive saying banks must “configure their ATMs to allow foreign cards” by “February 28, 2025,” while The Guardian reported the goal is for ATMs to accept “Visa, MasterCard, and other foreign cards.”
Echotitbits take: This is a pro-diaspora, pro-tourism signal—but reliability is everything. Watch for early hiccups (declines, FX conversion disputes, downtime), and whether fees and FX spreads become the next consumer pain-point.
Source: The Punch — December 25, 2025 (https://punchng.com/firstbank-atms-to-now-accept-intl-cards/)
The Punch 2025-12-25
