Chuma Ezirim announced that First Bank of Nigeria Limited and Visa have launched the Visa Signature card in Lagos, a premium payment product aimed at Nigeria’s affluent segment and introduced alongside a new Naira Visa Debit Card for everyday users.
The Visa Signature card is built for top executives, business owners and frequent international travelers and brings lifestyle benefits, global travel privileges and curated merchant offers through Visa’s worldwide acceptance network in more than 200 countries and territories. Cardholders get 24/7 concierge services, international airport lounge access, travel insurance and emergency medical assistance, and the card supports both domestic and cross-border transactions.
FirstBank said the Signature card embeds multi-currency functionality into a single chip that automatically defers to local currencies based on the user’s location, switching between the naira, US dollar, British pound and euro. The premium card has a standard daily transaction limit of N3m, a limit the bank says can be adjusted on request, and will be delivered to customers within 24 to 48 hours depending on location. The card is available to eligible FirstBank customers who can apply at any branch nationwide or through a dedicated relationship manager.
"At FirstBank, we are dedicated to creating financial solutions that reflect the evolving lifestyles of our customers. We understand that our premium customers aspire to experiences that reflect their global outlook. Visa Signature is crafted to meet those expectations, offering access to exclusive experiences, global connectivity, and lifestyle privileges that empower our customers to live without boundaries. We remain focused on creating value and reinforcing our position as the partner of first choice for Nigerians at home and abroad," Ezirim said.
Andrew Uaboi, speaking for Visa, framed the card as a response to a distinct market profile: "Nigeria’s affluent consumers are among the most active and globally connected spenders on the continent. Visa Signature is designed to serve that profile with the depth of benefits and the breadth of acceptance they deserve. We are delighted to work with FirstBank in making this available to the Nigerian market." He added that the new offerings underline a comprehensive card portfolio: "A strong payments ecosystem is one that works for everyone. The Naira Visa Debit Card extends reliable electronic payment access to everyday Nigerian consumers, and this in addition to the cards in our portfolio continues to demonstrate what a truly comprehensive card portfolio looks like for the Nigerian market. Visa is proud to power this offering with FirstBank."
FirstBank framed the move as an extension of an existing Visa suite that already serves millions of Nigerians with Visa Infinite, Visa Gold, Naira Credit and Visa Prepaid cards. The bank said the Signature product deepens its premium product offering while the simultaneous roll-out of the Naira Visa Debit Card is meant to widen electronic payment access for everyday transactions—"whether they are paying for groceries, settling utility bills, or shopping online," as Ezirim put it, and to support Nigeria’s broader cashless economy push.
The launch carries an internal tension: it is explicitly targeted at an affluent, globe‑trotting clientele even as FirstBank and Visa launched a second product intended to broaden basic digital access across the country. Obianuju Ondo-Okereke described the pair as purposely complementary: "Today marks a key milestone as we launch the Visa Signature and the Naira Visa Debit Cards, designed to deliver seamless, secure, and globally connected payment experiences to our customers. Our dual offering is purposely designed—the Visa Signature Card is for the affluent segment, while the Naira Visa Debit Card is for everyday customers requiring convenience, accessibility, and global usability." The two-track strategy highlights a split focus: deepening premium services while scaling everyday electronic payments.
For now, the immediate result is concrete: eligible FirstBank customers can apply in-branch or through relationship managers for a Visa Signature card that switches currencies, grants premium travel benefits and carries a flexible N3m daily transaction cap, and will arrive within one to two days. The move positions FirstBank to press its premium credentials while keeping a hand on the mass market with the Naira Visa Debit, signaling a bank that intends to serve both ends of Nigeria’s payments market.
