Are you looking to upgrade your First Bank account? Perhaps your account was restricted or frozen because you received a sum of money above the maximum limit?
Of course, this may cause you some inconvenience, especially if you need the money for an urgent business or personal transaction.
As a First Bank account holder, you can upgrade your account with little or no stress provided you have the required documents.
Here, we’ll discuss how you can upgrade your First Bank account seamlessly with proper documentation.
What Type of Account Requires an Upgrade?
If you have a First Instant account or a tier 2 savings account, there is a limit to the amount of money your bank account can receive.
If you receive a sum above the maximum limit, the bank freezes your account pending the time you upgrade it. Plus, you’ll be unable to make any withdrawals.
To receive unlimited amounts of money into your account, you’d require an upgrade to a tier 3 account.
Unlike the other types of accounts, the tier 3 account has zero restrictions on the amount of cash that gets in your account. If you deal in the big bucks – business moguls, corporate professionals, civil servants, professional artisans – a tier 3 account would better serve your banking needs.
What Do I Need to Upgrade My Bank Account?
The documents the Account Officer at the bank will demand from you for an account upgrade include the following:
- A Means of Identification (ID) – This requirement is quite essential. You could present a National ID card, Driver’s License, Permanent Voter’s Card, or an International Passport.
Make sure the ID you have is not expired, else it will be rejected by the Account Officer. Besides ensuring the validity of your ID, your portrait must be visible to the human eye.
- A Utility Bill – Account Officers are usually strict with the kind of bill you provide to upgrade your account, so pay close attention.
The utility bill could be a Nepa bill, water bill, or rent bill. But of the three, the Nepa bill is most widely accepted across all First Bank branches in Nigeria.
To be safe, get a Nepa bill of your current residence that is at least three months old from the time of upgrading your account.
For instance, if you visit the bank for an account upgrade service on the 6th of June, 2021, the utility bill you present must be from April 2021 to June 2021.
Any utility bill beyond April will be rejected by the First Bank Account Officer or Customer Care Representative.
- A Passport – This is important for the documentation process by the Account Officer. The passport photograph (ensure you’re not smiling or laughing) you present should be portrait-sized.
If you do not have a passport photograph, you could easily walk into any photo studio and get it done.
With the list of documents above, you can confidently proceed to engage the Customer Care Representative and request that your First Bank account is upgraded.
Step by Step Guide to Account Upgrade Process
There are two ways to upgrade your bank account – remotely or in person. The latter is the most common means of upgrading your First Bank account. But in some cases, you may be permitted to upgrade your account remotely if you are in a condition that doesn’t permit a visit to the bank.
So, let’s take a quick glance at both ways:
Remote Account Upgrade Process
Although an uncommon occurrence with First Bank, here’s how to go about your account upgrade from a remote location:
- Contact the First Bank Customer Service Representative.
- Ask to speak with the Accounts Manager.
- Explain your situation to whoever is in charge.
You’ll be provided with alternatives to upgrading your account without being physically present.
Physical Account Upgrade Process
As the name implies, this would require that you visit the bank to upgrade your account. Here’s a quick guide to help you:
- Go over your documents and confirm you’ve all the required documents stated above.
- Head over to the nearest First Bank branch in your area or location.
- Once you enter the banking hall, ask for the Customer Care Service unit.
- Speak with the Customer Care Representative at the desk about your account upgrade.
You’ll be asked to fill a form if you provide all the essential documents listed above. While you fill the form, ensure you provide matching addresses for all your documents, especially the utility bill.
Your place of residence and the address on the utility bill must be the same. A different address on your utility bill will nullify your account upgrade process because the bank will assume you’re not the owner of the bill.
If you encounter any issues in filling your form, please do not hesitate to walk up to any of the Customer Care Representatives to get some clarity about the issues.
