The Alternative Bank Sort Code in Nigeria: Branch Code and Payment Guide
The Alternative Bank Limited is a Nigerian non-interest bank, and customers may occasionally need domestic routing information when completing payment instructions. The term “sort code” should not be confused with the bank’s SWIFT/BIC or other institutional identifiers.
Does The Alternative Bank have a sort code?
The Alternative Bank operates within Nigeria’s banking and payment infrastructure. However, the current public sources reviewed do not provide a sufficiently reliable complete branch-by-branch list of nine-digit sort codes to publish as an authoritative directory.
For an actual transaction, the correct branch-specific code should therefore be confirmed with the bank.
Why the exact branch matters
Nigerian sort codes are designed to identify banking and branch-routing information. A bank can therefore have multiple sort codes rather than one universal number for every customer.
The Alternative Bank bank code
A bank code and a sort code should be treated as separate identifiers. A short institutional code cannot safely be expanded into a nine-digit branch code without the underlying branch and check-digit information.
How to get the correct sort code
- Identify the branch or account location.
- Confirm that the receiving institution wants a Nigerian sort code.
- Request the current nine-digit code from The Alternative Bank.
- Enter the number exactly as supplied.
Sort code versus SWIFT/BIC
The Alternative Bank’s SWIFT/BIC is ATTNNGLA. This is different from the domestic Nigerian sort code.
| Identifier | Use |
|---|---|
| Sort code | Domestic Nigerian routing |
| Account number | Identifies the customer’s account |
| SWIFT/BIC | International bank identification |
Why you should not use the SWIFT code in a sort-code field
ATTNNGLA contains letters and is an eight-character BIC. Nigerian domestic sort codes are numeric and use a different routing system.
What if an online form asks for The Alternative Bank’s sort code?
Use the exact format requested by the form. If it specifically requires a nine-digit Nigerian sort code and you do not have the branch code, contact the bank before submitting the form.
Frequently asked questions
What is The Alternative Bank’s sort code?
The exact current nine-digit branch code should be confirmed with the bank.
What is The Alternative Bank’s SWIFT code?
The commonly published BIC is ATTNNGLA.
Is ATTNNGLA a sort code?
No. It is a SWIFT/BIC identifier.
Can I use one sort code for all Alternative Bank accounts?
You should not assume that. Verify the code for the relevant branch or payment arrangement.
Bottom line: When a domestic transaction requires a sort code, obtain the current branch-specific number from The Alternative Bank rather than substituting its SWIFT/BIC or guessing a numeric code.