Paypal accepted my Naira Mastercard

It's official. Paypal now works in Nigeria and they've also started accepting Naira MasterCard. I'm luvin this!

To register for a Paypal Nigeria account, just go to paypal.com/ng/

I recently opened a Paypal account in Nigeria and it's not like those other Paypal accounts Nigerians were used to opening unofficially using fake addresses or IPs but an official one through Paypal Nigeria. I also verified the account almost immediately using my UBA bank issued Naira MasterCard.

I've always known that our Naira MasterCard can do a lot more than just making POS payments or allowing ATM withdrawals. Now, we can also use it for international payments and on services like Paypal.

For those who don't already know, Paypal is basically like an online bank. It's a payment platform where you can also store money. You can also use to send and receive money online to other Paypal account users and all a person really needs to register is an active email address.

In Nigeria, to verify a Paypal account, all one needs to use is a card from your bank such as the Naira Visa or MasterCard. Since the card is already linked to your bank account, Paypal will use the card to verify your details by sending a charge to it, about N320 and this would also include a unique code embedded within the transaction details. The Paypal user will then use that code to complete the verification from within his Paypal account.

I had applied for the Paypal account almost as soon as the doors were opened on June 7th 2014 and decided to also immediately verify it using the Naira Mastercard I got from UBA. It is a debit Mastecard I normally use for making ATM withdrawals and on POS machines at outlets like Shoprite.

Initially, I was a bit skeptical that my UBA Naira Mastercard would not work on Paypal since their billing is in US dollars and also since I've tried the card on Amazon but it was rejected. I initially tried the Visa Naira Card which I trusted and which I got from Union bank since that has been working on Amazon but surprisingly, it did not work yet on Paypal. Perhaps, Visa has not yet approved of payments on behalf of Paypal Nigeria. When I later decided to try out the Mastercard on Paypal, it surprisingly was accepted.

However, I didn't get any SMS alert immediately on my phone as I usually do when I make withdrawals on the ATM. It rather took about 24 more hours to get it. I got the sms alert around 2 a.m. while I was still sleeping and it contained the Paypal code in the format PP*PAYPALCODE*CODE and the amount was about N320. I tried converting it to Naira by Googling for 320 NGN to USD and got about $1.96. My bank account was also debited but I'm yet to receive a reversal of that charge yet from my bank. Paypal Nigeria would need to reverse that charge else people might think they are paying a fee just to open a Paypal Nigeria account.

I later logged into my Paypal Nigeria account and might I remind you that there is no need to change your IP or use a fake address when dealing with Paypal in Nigeria. I logged into my account and clicked to verify it by including the Paypal code. Voila! My Paypal Nigeria account was verified with my UBA Mastercard. I also hear that cards like GTBank's Mastercard are working. Visa might be a bit slow into accepting Paypal in Nigeria for now.

I also successfully sent a $10 to another Paypal account and it worked well even without funds in my account but my savings account was debited. It seems that as long as you have added a card to your Paypal Nigerian account and it has been approved, you can always make payments through Paypal without having funds in your account.

Paypal Nigeria doesn't allow Nigerians to add their bank accounts or receive money from other Paypal account users for now but you can use it for sending money.

Well, Nigerians like to buy things a lot on the web and I guess, Paypal will give them more access to merchants who only use Paypal. I'm not sure if Paypal payments will be accepted on sites like eBay yet. When I try out eBay, I'll also write about it.

Personally, I need Paypal for a lot of things such as paying for web hosting fees, buying domain names, paying for VPN services, shopping on eBay and also receiving online payments.

For now though, I still think Paypal just heard that there is a lot of money in Nigeria and they just want us to spend our money on Oyibo people without adding any money to out economy. How can an economy keep growing if all they do is spend? Paypal Nigeria needs to add more features and remove those limits.

Posted by Felix Okoli on Friday June 20, 2014 at 12:31:54:

Comments:

Re: Paypal accepted my Naira Mastercard Posted by stroud on Monday June 23, 2014 at 16:35:49:

Please how do i use my master card to verify paypal account ?

Re: Paypal accepted my Naira Mastercard Posted by Felix Okoli on Monday June 23, 2014 at 16:35:49:

First of all go to paypal.com/ng to register for a Nigerian account and after that, Click on the link that says "Verify" in order to verify your account. You will then be able to add your card details to it and submit the form. Paypal will charge your bank account linked with the card and in that transaction or billing statement, you will see the Paypal code within it with which you will then use to verify your Paypal account. If you normally receive sms alerts from your bank, the code will also be sent to your phone.

Re: Paypal accepted my Naira Mastercard Reply by lola on Saturday July 19, 2014 at 3:20:54:

from my paypal account that i opened with gtbank mastercard one cant pay for goods directly on the account after the account is verified

Re: Paypal accepted my Naira Mastercard Reply by Felix Okoli on Saturday July 19, 2014 at 3:20:54:

As long as the Mastercard has been successfully linked to your Paypal account and has been successfully charged about N320 the first time, you will be able use it to make payments subsequently as longs as there is money in your bank account. It works for me always.

Re: Paypal accepted my Naira Mastercard Reply by joy on Tuesday November 11, 2014 at 10:18:49:

weldone

Re: Paypal accepted my Naira Mastercard Reply by SULEIMAN on Wednesday December 17, 2014 at 13:13:39:

i successfuly hav a/c with paypal but my bank neva approve GT-BANK
Here is the respond i got:

The bank that issued your card didn't approve this transaction. Please contact the card issuer.s customer service department if you have any questions. Or you can add a different card now to continue

THOUGHT I DID NOT HAVE MONEY INSITE THE A/C,should it be the cause?

Re: Paypal accepted my Naira Mastercard Reply by Felix Okoli on Wednesday December 17, 2014 at 13:13:39:

If there is no money in your account, the bank will not approve the transaction. It is that simple.

Re: Paypal accepted my Naira Mastercard Reply by DOTUN on Wednesday January 14, 2015 at 11:52:49:

But i learn,t that one can only use paypals nigeria to send money alone. but one can't use it to withdraw.

Re: Paypal accepted my Naira Mastercard Reply by Felix Okoli on Wednesday January 14, 2015 at 11:52:49:

Yes, You can't withdraw from Paypal Nigeria yet but only send. You can only withdraw from Paypal USA if you have one and using a US ip too.

Re: Paypal accepted my Naira Mastercard Reply by Lynda on Saturday February 7, 2015 at 6:35:35:

I came across your website by accident.Your posts are very informative and up to date. I like them a lot. keep plugging in .I think you are doing a great job!

Re: Paypal accepted my Naira Mastercard Reply by Ebere on Thursday September 17, 2015 at 11:53:14:

What's the use of not being able to withdraw? So meaning if I get paid into my paypal account I cannot withdraw it from my gtbank that is linked to it?

Re: Paypal accepted my Naira Mastercard Reply by Felix Okoli on Thursday September 17, 2015 at 11:53:14:

For now, you can't even get paid into your Nigerian Paypal account as it's only used for outflows. You may however be able to receive money with Paypal if you were using a foreign Paypal account.

Re: Paypal accepted my Naira Mastercard Reply by Gideon on Tuesday September 29, 2015 at 1:19:34:

Thanks for your timely information on any subject. Please how can i opened US verified paypal that will not be banned here in Nigeria.

Thanks a million

Re: Paypal accepted my Naira Mastercard Reply by Felix Okoli on Tuesday September 29, 2015 at 1:19:34:

To open a US paypal, you need to have a US ip address at least and make use of a US address when registering. I would advise that you first earn some money online before trying to open a Paypal account. You can get a US IP address by registering for a US VPN service which you can use with your internet service.

Re: Paypal accepted my Naira Mastercard Reply by Emmanuel on Friday October 23, 2015 at 19:22:55:

Have you been able to purchase on eBay now with you MasterCard/ PayPal account

Re: Paypal accepted my Naira Mastercard Reply by Felix Okoli on Friday October 23, 2015 at 19:22:55:

No, it's been a while I used Paypal but I know I can still buy from eBay but not with the Nigerian Paypal account. You need something like a US paypal account to shop on ebay.com