> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.usenumero.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Get Bank List

> Retrieve the supported Nigerian banks and their CBN codes. Use a bank's cbnCode when validating accounts and initiating transfers.

Retrieve the curated, transfer-ready bank list. Use a bank's `cbnCode` as the `destinationBankCode` on
[name enquiry](/api-reference/transfers-validate-account) and [transfers](/api-reference/transfers-single).

## Endpoint

```
GET /api/v1/business/banks
```

**Signature required:** No

## Headers

| Header             | Required | Description  |
| ------------------ | -------- | ------------ |
| `X-Numero-Api-Key` | Yes      | Your API key |

## Query parameters

| Parameter  | Type   | Required | Description                                                                      |
| ---------- | ------ | -------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `searchBy` | string | No       | Case-insensitive substring match on bank name or CBN code (e.g. `GTB`, `Access`) |

## Request example

```bash theme={null}
curl -X GET "https://api.usenumero.com/numeroaccount/api/v1/business/banks" \
  -H "X-Numero-Api-Key: your_api_key"
```

With a search filter:

```bash theme={null}
curl -X GET "https://api.usenumero.com/numeroaccount/api/v1/business/banks?searchBy=GTB" \
  -H "X-Numero-Api-Key: your_api_key"
```

## Response

```json theme={null}
{
  "data": [
    {
      "cbnCode": "000013",
      "name": "Guaranty Trust Bank",
      "shortName": "GTBank",
      "bankType": "COMMERCIAL",
      "supportsTransfer": true,
      "supportsVirtualAccount": true,
      "logoUrl": null,
      "isActive": true
    }
  ],
  "error": null,
  "meta": {
    "request_id": "req_365123ebc73323f1482508560ce6400e",
    "pagination": null
  }
}
```

| Field                    | Description                                                                                       |
| ------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `cbnCode`                | The canonical CBN code — **this is what you send as `destinationBankCode`**                       |
| `supportsTransfer`       | Whether this bank can be a transfer destination. Filter on it before offering a bank in a picker. |
| `supportsVirtualAccount` | Whether this bank can mint virtual accounts                                                       |
| `isActive`               | Inactive banks are returned for historical lookups but should not be offered for new transfers    |

<Note>
  Cache this list rather than fetching it per transfer, and refresh it periodically — banks are added and
  deactivated over time.
</Note>

## Deprecated: `/utility/banks`

An older `GET /api/v1/utility/banks` exists, returns a reduced shape (`bankName`, `bankCode`) and uses
the legacy response envelope rather than the one described in
[Errors & Responses](/04-errors-and-responses). It still works for existing integrations, but it is not
part of the developer API contract — build on `/business/banks`.