Stephen GbolagadeDo you know that you can open a domiciliary account on your mobile phone without paying a dime or bringing any referee? Yes, you can do that!
Creating a domiciliary account in Nigeria is what many freelancers, business owners, and individuals are battling with, some succeed while some give up.
In this blog post, I will be showing you a step-by-step guide on how you can create a domiciliary account in the comfort of your home.
KEYNOTE:
- Having a domiciliary account is like having a bank account abroad
- You can create a domiciliary account on ALAT.ng for free
- A Domiciliary account is not the best way to receive money abroad
- You can create either US Dollar, Euro, or GB Pounds domiciliary account or all on ALAT by Wema app
- The maximum withdrawal on ALAT.ng DOM account is $2,000 per day
What is a Domiciliary Account?
A Domiciliary account or simply a DOM account allows you to receive money in foreign currencies.
It’s simply like having a foreign bank account, let’s say in the USA, UK, or any country according to which type of domiciliary account you’re opening and which foreign bank did your local bank partnered with.
If you’ve been looking for a way to receive money from your clients or family member abroad, using a domiciliary account can be the best option especially during this Dollar-Naira inflation season.
But if you go to the likes of GT Bank and co., you will figure out that having a domiciliary account in Nigeria is more like “mission impossible” because the requirements are just too much.
For instance, the bank will ask you to bring two corporate account holders of that bank as referees and you must deposit $100 or more before you can be eligible to open a DOM account with them. Depositing $100 might not be the problem, but where are you going to see two corporate accounts holders that use the bank? Most people you’re familiar with are using a savings account.
It’s not their fault, that’s CBN policy to counter security issues. But does that mean we can’t get a domiciliary account in Nigeria if we can’t get those requirements? No!
We can get a domiciliary account on ALAT.ng for free and without using anybody as a referee.
How? That’s what I’m about to show you.
About ALAT by Wema Bank
Alat.ng or simply ALAT is a product by WEMA bank. According to the bank, ALAT is Nigeria’s first fully digital bank where you can manage your money on the go without visiting the branch office.
Well, I understand and care about that. The main point here is that ALAT is a digital bank owned by the WEMA Bank of Nigeria.
Now, before you can open a domiciliary account on ALAT.ng, you need to have a WEMA bank account to speed up the process, you definitely can come as an alien though ?
Knowing that fully well, what are the requirement to create a DOM account on ALAT.ng?
Requirements to Get a Domiciliary Account on ALAT.ng
- ALAT app
- Utility Bill
- Government-issued ID (NIN Slip or International passport)
- Bank Verification Number (BVN)
- Two passport photograph
- And any amount ranging from N1,000 upward
Those are the things you need, and you’re good to go. Now, let’s talk about the big deal
How To Get Domiciliary Account in Nigeria on ALAT
Getting a domiciliary account on ALAT.ng is very easy, the requirement is easy too and they’re something you can get at your fingertip (as listed above). I will split this guide into two parts,
- Creating a WEMA bank account and
- Creating your domiciliary account
If you have a WEMA bank account, you can skip the first step and jump to step two.
# How to Create WEMA Bank Account
- Grab all the requirements listed above and let’s get them to work
- Visit any WEMA bank branch office in your area, tell them you want to open a new account
- Fill the account opening form and submit it
- They’ll ask for all the requirements I asked you to prepare, give them accordingly
- Deposit like a thousand naira to get your account activated (you can withdraw it later)
- Ensure your account is working, you can do a to-and-fro transfer to confirm
- That’s all.
Now, let’s open our domiciliary account
# How to Create Domiciliary Account on ALAT
You Need WEMA Bank Account
I believe you already have a working WEMA bank account, if you don’t have one, use the steps above to open one
Download ALAT Mobile App
Go to PlayStore (for Android) or your iOS Appstore and download an app called “ALAT by Wema” or simply search for ALAT and install it.
Sign up & login into Your Account
Open the app and sign in… You’ll be asked some questions like your BVN, name, date of birth, etc. Just make sure you answer everything correctly as you did when opening the Wema bank account.
You’ll also be required to upload a signature, you can sign on a piece of paper, snap it and upload.
The onboarding process is very easy, just make sure you fill everything correctly.
Do Some Transactions on ALAT app
Although this is not necessary, just do it. See if the ALAT app is working perfectly as I iterated earlier. Deposit some money and let’s create your domiciliary account now!
Start Creating the Domiciliary Account on the ALAT app
Here is how to create a domiciliary account in Nigeria on ALAT by Wema Bank:
- Open the app and make sure you’re on the front page. Then, click on “Accounts”
- At the top right corner of the new page you’re redirected to, click on “Create Account”
- Then click on “Domiciliary Account” – the first option probably
- Read the short information about the account and click on “Proceed” anyways
- Select currency. If you want US Dollar, Euro, or GBP domiciliary account, you can choose any
- Then click on “Create Account”
- Wait until the account is generated
- Congrats, you now have a domiciliary account in Nigeria without paying a dime!
That’s not all though, let’s talk about the frequently asked questions on the domiciliary account provided by ALAT (Wema Bank).
FAQs – Domiciliary Account on ALAT app
How can I receive money with my ALAT Domiciliary account?
To receive money into your ALAT domiciliary account, swipe to the account (e.g US Dollar) and click on “Fund Account”, the information needed to send to the sender will be displayed. Copy it and send it to the person who wants to send money to you.
Check the screenshot below:
Can I fund my ALAT domiciliary account myself?
No, you can’t. But if you need to save in foreign currencies like US Dollar, you can check this blog post on how to Save and Invest in US Dollar.
What is the maximum I can withdraw from my ALAT DOM account?
You’re currently using a DOM lite account, and the maximum you can withdraw is $2,000. If you want to withdraw more than that, you’ll need to visit the bank.
What is the Maximum I can receive into my ALAT domiciliary account?
No maximum, you can receive as much as possible. But note that you may be called for investigation if you receive more than $10,000 at once (according to CBN policy though).
Can I use my domiciliary account on ALAT to shop online?
Well, not really. You can use a domiciliary account to transfer and receive foreign currencies. But however, if you need a way to shop with a dollar card, there is a way to do that easily on the ALAT app.
How to Get Virtual Dollar Card on ALAT for Online Shopping
This is a “virtual”, not a physical card. Meaning that you can only see the card but you can’t hold it like your regular ATM card.
To get your virtual dollar card on ALAT, follow the steps below:
- Log in to ALAT on Mobile or Web.
- Tap on “Cards” on the main menu.
- Click on “ALAT Virtual Dollar Card”.
- You’ll be prompted to “Enter your ALAT Pin”
- Click on “Create Dollar Card”
- Fill in all required information to proceed.
- And that’s all.
If you have any questions regarding creating a domiciliary account in Nigeria or, on the ALAT app, feel free to use the comment box below to ask and I’ll be glad to help.
PS: I’m not a WEMA bank staff or agent.
Stephen Gbolagade
