How to Open a Zelle Account in Nigeria

The convenience and ease for users enrolled with Zelle to transfer money between themselves using aliases make this service desirable for many. This service is, however, only available in the United States of America. But if you’re in Nigeria and wonder if there’s a way to go around this restriction, then get ready to learn how to go about it. We’d also provide alternatives in case you don’t have what it takes to open a Zelle account in Nigeria.

How to Open a Zelle Account in Nigeria

Read on. 

How to open a Zelle account in Nigeria would be discussed below: 

  • Can I Zelle Open a Zelle Account in Nigeria? 

The answer to this question is NO. The criteria one must satisfy to be able to open and operate a Zelle account can’t be obtained if you are in Nigeria. To be eligible, one must have a Wells Fargo Bank checking, savings or prepaid account, a Wells Fargo Advisors Brokerage Cash Services account, or a Wells Fargo The Private Bank checking and saving account. There are other financial institutions in the U.S. that partner with Zelle too. 

Aside from the bank accounts that have to be U.S.-based, another eligibility to open a Zelle account is a U.S. mobile phone number which would be used as an alias. A Zelle tag and email address are other aliases options. Due to these requirements that we have mentioned above, you can see why it’s not possible to open a Zelle account in Nigeria.  

But there’s a way to go around it if you must use a Zelle account while in Nigeria. The only way to do so is to have someone in the U.S. who has the aforementioned requirements open the account for you. This should be someone you trust, and the person must find you to be trustworthy also. After the person must have registered on Zelle, the login details can be sent to you. Although this is a not-so-straightforward process, it’s the only way to use Zelle in Nigeria. 

  • How to Open a Zelle Account in the U.S. 

As we’ve already established, only U.S. residents with the requirements we have mentioned above can open an account on Zelle. 

So, the person you have in the U.S. should follow the following steps to enrol with Zelle: 

  • Go to the Wells Fargo Online web page or use the Wells Fargo Mobile app
  • Click on “Sign on” and select “Transfer & Pay”
  • Navigate to “Send Money with Zelle” and go through the welcome note displayed on the screen
  • Read and accept the “Zelle Transfer Service Addendum” 
  • Provide a U.S. mobile number or email address to enrol and select the account where you want the money would be deposited
  • With this, you are ready to use the Zelle service
  • Note, a one-time verification code may be provided for each email address or U.S. mobile number selected (belonging to your friend in the U.S.). The one-time verification code should be entered in the verification code field
  • How to Add Contacts to Zelle 

After your person in the U.S. has successfully registered the Zelle account, he (or she) can then send you the login details. 

Use the following steps to add payments contacts to Zelle: 

  • Using the Wells Fargo mobile app or Wells Fargo Online, log in to the Zelle account
  • Click on “Transfer & Pay” 
  • Navigate to the address book icon and click on the “+” icon to add a recipient’s contact
  • On the Add Recipient Screen, input the email address or U.S. phone number of your recipient, as well as their first and last name
  • Click on “Save” to add your recipient to the address book
  • How to Send Money with Zelle 

Here’s how to send money with Zelle:

  • Using the Wells Fargo mobile app or Wells Fargo Online, log in to the Zelle account
  • Click on “Transfer & Pay”
  • Click on “Send Money with Zelle”
  • Select an already saved recipient from the address book or add a new recipient
  • Choose a From Account, and input the amount to be sent 
  • Click on “Review” and confirm that the name and email address or U.S. mobile phone number of your recipient checks out
  • Click on “Send” to complete the process
  • How to Receive Money with Zelle 

Remember during the registration, your person in the U.S. had provided an eligible U.S.-based bank account. The Funding Account and the Deposit Account may be the same account or both can be different. 

Follow these steps to receive money with Zelle: 

  • Using the Wells Fargo mobile app or Wells Fargo Online, log in to the Zelle account
  • Navigate to “Receive Settings” or “Settings” and click on it 
  • From the Settings screen, select the U.S.-based account you want the money to be deposited into
  • Then select “Register” beside the email address or U.S. mobile phone number (belonging to your person in the U.S.) you want to use
  • Let the sender know you accept payment with Zelle. Send the sender the U.S. mobile phone or email address of your person in the U.S. used to open the Zelle account 
  • Note, a one-time verification code may be provided for each email address or U.S. mobile number selected (belonging to your friend in the U.S.). The one-time verification code should be entered in the verification code field.
  • What Alternative to Zelle Can I Use in Nigeria? 

If you don’t have anybody in the U.S. who can help you open a Zelle account or you do not trust your finances with a third party, then you may need to consider an alternative you can use in Nigeria. The alternative we recommend is Payoneer.  You’ll need proof of residential address like an electricity bill, a Government-issued identification such as an International Password, and a local Nigerian bank account to create a Payoneer account in Nigeria. 

Follow these steps to create an account on Payoneer:

  • Go to https://www.payoneer.com/in/ and hit the “Register” button
  • Select the currency in which you want to open the currency, USD or GBP, and proceed to accurately provide the information required on the registration form 
  • Next, confirm and activate your email by clicking on the link sent to your mailbox 
  • At this point, you’ve successfully created a Payoneer account

With a Payoneer account, you can easily send and receive money from the U.S.  

 

 

 

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