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Transition Period Set from July 29 to September 29, 2025
Ecobank Nigeria has announced that it will phase out its Naira-denominated Mastercard debit cards, with the full deactivation taking effect on September 30, 2025. The bank disclosed this development in a customer advisory issued on Wednesday, emphasizing its shift toward a more secure and efficient digital payment system.
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Customers Urged to Switch to Verve Debit Cards
To ensure a smooth transition, Ecobank is offering all customers a free Verve debit card, which will replace the Mastercard currently in use.
“As part of our ongoing commitment to delivering secure and efficient banking services, we will be phasing out the Ecobank Naira Mastercard. In its place, we are pleased to offer you a free Verve debit card to ensure a seamless transition,” the bank stated.
The transition period will run from July 29 to September 29, 2025. Customers are advised to collect their new Verve cards from the nearest Ecobank branch before the deadline to avoid any disruption in service.
Verve Cards Offer Broad Digital Payment Support
Ecobank assured customers that the new Verve card supports:
- ATM withdrawals and POS transactions nationwide
- Payments on major global platforms, including:
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Google Play
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YouTube
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TikTok
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Spotify
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Netflix
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Prime Video
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AliExpress
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Microsoft
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LinkedIn
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Zoom
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Starlink
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Audiomack
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Uber
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Local Card Schemes Gain Momentum in Nigeria
This move aligns with the growing trend among Nigerian financial institutions to adopt local card schemes like Verve, which are more cost-effective, resilient to international disruptions, and tailored for the Nigerian market.
The bank also emphasized that customers will not incur any fees for acquiring the new Verve debit cards and encouraged all users to complete the switch before the September 30 cutoff date.
