Since you have a Nigerian address on your AdSense account, your payment currency is fixed to USD, and your primary payout options are Wire Transfer or Western Union. Receiving payments into a Grey virtual USD account is possible, but the setup requires specific attention to detail to avoid payment holds or failed transfers.
Here is the step-by-step process to set it up:
1. Get Your Details from Grey
Log into your Grey account and navigate to your USD virtual bank account. You will need the following information:
- Account Holder Name: Must exactly match the name on your AdSense account.
- Account Number
- Routing Number (ABA)
- Bank Name (usually Silvergate or Evolve Bank & Trust, depending on Grey’s current provider).
- SWIFT/BIC Code: Note that for Nigerian AdSense accounts, Google typically uses Wire Transfer, which requires a SWIFT code. Virtual accounts often use ACH (Routing Number) for US-to-US transfers. +1
Important: If your AdSense payment page only asks for a SWIFT code (common for international wire transfers), but Grey only provides a Routing Number, you may need to contact Grey support to ask for their Intermediary Bank or SWIFT details for international wires.
2. Add the Payment Method in AdSense
- Sign in to your Google AdSense account.
- Click Payments > Payments info.
- Click Add payment method.
- Choose Add new wire transfer details.
- Note: Even though Grey is a virtual account, Google treats it as a standard bank account.
- Enter your information exactly as it appears in the Grey app:
- Name on bank account: Your full legal name.
- Bank name: The name provided by Grey (e.g., Evolve Bank & Trust).
- SWIFT-BIC: Enter the SWIFT code provided by Grey.
- Account number: Your virtual USD account number.
3. Verification & Thresholds
- Test Deposit: Google may send a small “test deposit” (usually less than $1) to your Grey account to verify it. You will need to check your Grey transaction history and enter that exact amount back into AdSense to verify the link.
- Minimum Payout: You must reach the $100 threshold before Google initiates the payment.
- Timeline: Payments are typically sent between the 21st and 26th of the month. Once sent, it usually takes 3–5 business days to reflect in your Grey USD balance.
Key Considerations for Nigerian Accounts
| Potential Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| Address Verification | You must have already verified your Nigerian physical address via the AdSense PIN sent by mail before you can receive any payments. |
| Name Mismatch | If the name on your AdSense account is “John Doe” but your Grey account is registered as “John A. Doe,” the transfer might fail. Ensure they are identical. |
| ACH vs. Wire | Some virtual accounts only support ACH (Domestic US transfers). If AdSense insists on a SWIFT code for an “International Wire,” make sure Grey supports receiving wire transfers, or the money may be bounced back to Google. |
Pro Tip: If you run into issues with the USD virtual account, many Nigerian creators use a Domiciliary (Dom) account from a local bank (like GTBank or Zenith) and enter those SWIFT details directly. This is often more “native” to the Nigerian AdSense settings, though Grey generally offers better exchange rates when you eventually convert to Naira.