Over the past few months, particularly since the start of 2026, Nigerian regulators have rolled out a series of high-impact policies and directives across the financial system.
While some of these measures made headlines at the time they were announced, many quietly introduced significant changes that could affect banks, fintechs, businesses, investors, and millions of consumers.
From new ATM deployment rules and tighter Bank Verification Number (BVN) requirements to fresh cybersecurity obligations and foreign exchange reforms, the regulatory landscape has continued to evolve rapidly.
That is why, for this edition of Regulatory Watch, Nairametrics reviewed some of the most important recent pronouncements from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) that could shape banking operations, digital payments, foreign exchange access, and consumer protection in the months ahead.
On April 21, 2026, the Central Bank of Nigeria released a draft version of its revised “Guide to Charges by Banks and Other Financial Institutions, 2026,” introducing new fee caps and stricter disclosure requirements across the banking sector.
- One of the major highlights of the proposed framework is the introduction of structured limits on electronic transfer charges. Under the proposal, transfers below N5,000 would remain free, transfers between N5,000 and N50,000 would attract a maximum fee of N10, while transactions above N50,000 would be capped at N50.
- The proposed guideline also standardises ATM withdrawal charges. Customers withdrawing cash from another bank’s on-site ATM would pay N100 per N20,000 withdrawal, while off-site ATM withdrawals could attract an additional surcharge of up to N500. Merchant service charges were also capped at 0.5% per transaction, subject to a maximum of N10,000.
The CBN said the proposed changes are aimed at improving transparency, reducing excessive banking charges, and lowering the cost of digital transactions in Nigeria.
