How diaspora Nigerians actually send money home in 2026

If you're a Nigerian abroad sending money home, you're probably frustrated. The banks tell you one exchange rate, your family receives less than you expected, and fees eat another chunk. By 2026, the landscape has shifted—but not in the way the fintech marketing emails suggest. You have real options now, each with genuine trade-offs. This article walks you through what actually works, with specific numbers, so you can stop guessing which platform your cousin should use.

The core problem hasn't changed: moving money across borders is still expensive and slow, even though the technology exists to make it instant and cheap. What has changed is that you now have competing solutions, each optimised for different use cases. Some are fastest for one-off transfers. Others work better for regular remittances. A few let you hold and spend money in naira without converting. The catch is that none of them are perfect for everyone—and the "best" option depends on whether you're sending £500 or $5,000, whether your family needs cash today or can wait three days, and whether you trust a new fintech or prefer the bank.

We've worked with dozens of diaspora founders at LaunchPad who are both sending money home and building for this market. The patterns are clear: most people use multiple platforms, switching based on the urgency and size of the transfer. That's the insight we'll unpack here.

The five routes diaspora Nigerians actually use

Let's start with reality. You have five main channels:

1. Wise (formerly TransferWise) — the most popular for regular transfers under £2,000
2. Remitly — strong in the US market, weaker in the UK
3. Bank-to-bank transfers — slower but sometimes cheaper for large amounts
4. Stablecoins (USDC, USDT) — growing fast, especially for tech-savvy senders
5. Informal networks (Ajo, cash couriers, trusted contacts) — still the most common for small amounts

Each has a place. Most diaspora Nigerians we've spoken to use at least two of these regularly. You might use Wise for your mum's upkeep, a bank transfer for a property deposit, and USDC if you're sending money to a co-founder.

Wise: still the default, but with real limits

Wise has won the diaspora market through simplicity and transparency. You see the real exchange rate (mid-market, updated every 30 seconds), you know the fee upfront, and the money arrives in 1–3 business days. For a £500 transfer in early 2026, you'd pay around £2–4 in fees, and your family would get approximately ₦385,000–₦395,000 depending on the current rate. That's genuinely competitive.

The limits are important to know:

• Monthly cap: Wise has tiered limits based on your verification. A standard user can send up to £10,000 per transfer, but some accounts are capped lower initially.
• Speed: 1–3 business days is standard. Urgent transfers (same-day) cost extra and aren't always available on all routes.
• Account type: You need a Wise account and a verified bank account in your home country (or someone else's account to receive into).
• Receiving bank: The receiving bank matters. Tier-1 banks like GTBank, Zenith, and Access usually process within the standard window. Smaller banks or microfinance institutions can take longer.

Wise works best for regular, predictable transfers under £3,000. If you're sending your parents' monthly allowance or contributing to a family project over time, it's the path of least resistance. The transparency is real—you won't wake up wondering where your money went.

The friction point: if your family doesn't have a bank account, or only has a microfinance account, Wise can be slow. And if you're sending large sums regularly (say, £5,000+ monthly), the fees start to sting proportionally.

Remitly: stronger in the US, weaker here

Remitly is the US-to-Africa specialist. If you're sending from New York or California, Remitly often beats Wise on exchange rate and speed. From the UK, it's less compelling. The platform has a slick app, cash pickup options in Nigeria (through agents), and competitive rates for amounts under $1,000.

Where Remitly shines:

• Cash pickup: Your family can collect naira in cash at Remitly agents across Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and other major cities. Useful if they don't have a bank account or want immediate access.
• Mobile money: Money can be sent to MTN Mobile Money or Airtel Money wallets, which your family can then convert to naira or spend directly.
• US rates: If you're sending from the US, the exchange rates are often 0.5–1% better than Wise.

The catches:

• UK rates: From the UK, Remitly's naira rate is usually 0.5–1% worse than Wise. The fees are also slightly higher for smaller transfers.
• Speed: Standard delivery is 2–3 business days. Cash pickup can take up to 5 days.
• Limits: Monthly limits are lower than Wise for new users, typically $2,000–$5,000 initially.

Remitly makes sense if you're in the US, your family doesn't have a bank account, or you're sending under $500 and want the option of cash pickup. Otherwise, Wise is usually the better move from the UK.

Bank-to-bank transfers: slow but sometimes cheaper for large amounts

If you're sending £5,000 or more, or if you're making a one-off transfer for a specific purpose (property, business investment, education fees), going through your UK or US bank directly might be cheaper than the fintech platforms.

How it works:

1. You initiate an international transfer (SWIFT) from your bank.
2. Your bank applies its own exchange rate and fees (typically £15–£40 plus 1–2% on the exchange rate).
3. The money arrives in your family's Nigerian bank account in 3–5 business days.

The economics:

• £1,000 transfer: Bank fees (£20) + poor exchange rate (1.5% loss) = roughly £35 total cost. Wise would cost £2–4. Wise wins.
• £5,000 transfer: Bank fees (£35) + poor exchange rate (1.5% loss) = roughly £110 total cost. Wise would cost £10–15. Wise wins.
• £10,000+ transfer: Bank fees might be flat (£40–£50) + exchange rate loss (1–1.5%) = £150–£200 total. Wise would cost £30–50. Wise wins.

But there's a psychological factor: your family's bank account receives money from a foreign bank, which feels more official and trustworthy than a fintech. For large, one-off transfers, that peace of mind matters. Also, some employers or institutions require proof of funds from a "proper" bank transfer.

The real advantage of bank-to-bank only emerges for very large transfers (£20,000+) where you might negotiate better rates with your bank, or for transfers to smaller banks where Wise doesn't have direct corridors and would route through intermediaries (adding cost).

Stablecoins: the future, but with friction today

This is where the market is moving. If you're tech-savvy or sending to someone who is, stablecoins (USDC or USDT) are becoming the default for diaspora-to-founder transfers.

How it works:

1. You buy USDC on Coinbase, Kraken, or another exchange (usually 0.5–1% fee).
2. You send it to your family's wallet on a blockchain (Ethereum, Polygon, Solana—costs vary, typically $1–5).
3. Your family sells it for naira on a platform like Luno, Busha, or Coinbase (1–2% fee).
4. They withdraw to their bank account (usually instant or within 24 hours).

Total cost for a $1,000 transfer: roughly $20–30 in fees, plus a small slippage on the exchange rate. Speed: 10 minutes to 2 hours, depending on blockchain congestion.

Why it's growing:

• No intermediary banks: The money doesn't touch the CBN's foreign exchange window, so there's no parallel market risk.
• Speed: From your wallet to your family's naira account in under an hour.
• Transparency: You see the blockchain transaction; there's no mystery.
• Emerging use case: If you're funding a startup or sending money to a business partner, stablecoins avoid the documentation and scrutiny of traditional remittances.

Why it hasn't replaced Wise yet:

• Friction: Your family needs a crypto wallet and must know how to convert stablecoins to naira. Not everyone is there yet.
• Volatility in conversion: While USDC is stable, the naira/USD rate moves. If your family delays converting, they might get a worse rate.
• Regulatory uncertainty: The CBN's stance on crypto has softened, but it's not fully clear. Some families worry about receiving stablecoin transfers.
• Tax and documentation: For large transfers, there's ambiguity around tax reporting and AML documentation.

For a deeper dive into how stablecoins are actually used across Africa, see our guide on stablecoin payments in Africa.

Stablecoins are ideal if you're sending to someone who understands crypto, if you're funding a tech venture, or if you're sending regularly and want to avoid the fintech fees. For sending money to your parents, Wise is still simpler.

Informal networks: Ajo, trusted contacts, and cash couriers

This is the route that never made it into fintech marketing decks, but it's still how most diaspora money moves in Nigeria.

The main channels:

1. Ajo and Esusu circles: Your family joins a rotating savings group (or you fund their membership). Money comes back to them in a lump sum on a set schedule. This is less about remittance and more about savings, but it's a real way diaspora money gets deployed.

2. Trusted contacts: You send money to a friend or family member in the UK or US, and they give cash to someone travelling to Nigeria, who delivers it to your family. Zero fees, maximum trust risk.

3. Cash couriers: There are still services (often informal) where you hand over cash in London or New York, and it arrives with someone in Lagos within 48 hours. Costs are typically 3–5% of the amount. This still happens, especially for amounts under £1,000.

4. Platforms like Ajo: The new wave of digital Ajo platforms (like Ajo) are trying to formalise this. You send money in, it goes into a digital savings circle, and your family gets their payout on schedule. For a deeper look at how this works, see Ajo, Esusu, and the next wave of digital savings circles.

Why people still use these:

• Community: You're not just sending money; you're participating in a savings mechanism that's culturally embedded.
• No documentation: For informal transfers, there's no KYC, no questions asked.
• Flexibility: If your family needs the money urgently, they can often get it faster than waiting for a bank transfer.
• Lower barriers: Your family doesn't need a bank account or smartphone with an app.

The risks are real: you're trusting people with your money, and if something goes wrong, there's no recourse. But for amounts under £500 and for families without bank access, this is still the most practical route.

Comparing the routes: a practical table

How to choose: the decision tree

Ask yourself these questions in order:

1. How much are you sending? If it's under £500, Wise is fine, but informal networks might be cheaper. If it's £5,000+, compare bank rates.

2. How often? If it's monthly, Wise or stablecoins. If it's one-off, bank transfer might be worth it for large amounts.

3. Does your family have a bank account? If no, Remitly (for cash pickup), informal networks, or Ajo. If yes, Wise or stablecoins.

4. How urgently do they need it? If today, stablecoins or informal. If this week, Wise. If next week, bank transfer.

5. Is it for personal use or a business/investment? Personal: Wise. Business: stablecoins or bank transfer (for documentation).

The emerging trend: multi-platform usage

In our experience at LaunchPad, most diaspora Nigerians don't pick one platform and stick with it. Instead, they maintain accounts on 2–3 platforms and switch based on context. A typical pattern:

• Wise for mum's monthly allowance (£300, every month).
• Bank transfer for a property deposit (£8,000, one-time).
• USDC for funding a friend's startup (₦5 million, needs to arrive as stablecoin).
• Ajo or informal network for small amounts to cousins (£50–100, no documentation needed).

This diversification hedges against platform outages, rate changes, and regulatory shifts. It also optimises cost: you're not paying Wise fees on a £10,000 transfer when your bank might do it cheaper.

If you're earning in dollars abroad and thinking about your personal FX strategy, there's more to consider. See FX strategy for Nigerian startups earning in dollars for a deeper breakdown of when to convert, where to hold money, and how to minimise losses.

What's changing by the end of 2026

The landscape is shifting. CBN regulations are slowly opening up. Stablecoin adoption is accelerating, especially among younger Nigerians and in tech hubs like Yaba and Lekki. Platforms like Wise are experimenting with faster settlement and lower fees. Remitly is investing in the UK corridor.

But the fundamentals remain: you're moving money across borders, and someone is taking a cut. The question is who, how much, and how fast. By 2026, the answer is clearer than it's ever been—you just need to know which route fits your situation.

FAQ

Q: Is Wise safe for large amounts? A: Yes. Wise is FCA-regulated in the UK and holds funds in segregated accounts. For amounts under £100,000, the platform is as safe as your bank. The main risk is user error (sending to the wrong account details), not Wise itself.

Q: Can I send money to someone without a bank account? A: Yes, but it depends on the route. Remitly offers cash pickup. Informal networks and Ajo work without bank accounts. Wise and bank transfers require a receiving bank account.

Q: Which platform has the best exchange rate? A: Wise typically has the best rate (mid-market, updated every 30 seconds). Stablecoins can match or beat it if you're trading on a liquid exchange like Coinbase. Bank rates are usually 1–2% worse.

Q: How long does money actually take to arrive? A: Wise: 1–3 business days (usually 1–2). Bank transfer: 3–5 days. Stablecoins: 10 minutes to 2 hours. Informal: 1–3 days. Cash couriers: 2–3 days.

Q: Do I need to report remittances to the CBN or FIRS? A: For personal transfers, no formal reporting is required. For business payments or large amounts (over $10,000), your bank may file a CTR (Currency Transaction Report). If you're self-employed and receiving regular payments from abroad, FIRS may ask questions during tax filing.

What to do next

If you're sending money regularly, set up accounts on both Wise and one alternative (Remitly if you're in the US, or a stablecoin exchange if you're tech-savvy). Test with a small transfer first to see which platform works best for your family's situation.

If you're earning in dollars abroad and want to optimise your personal FX strategy, read FX strategy for Nigerian startups earning in dollars.

If you're exploring community-based savings models or want to understand how Ajo circles are being digitised, check out Ajo, Esusu, and the next wave of digital savings circles.