If you're trying to use your Timon card to pay for Meta ads (Facebook or Instagram) and it's not working, you're not alone. Here's what you need to know and exactly what to do.
1. Meta Ad Payments Are Categorised as International Transactions
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) categorises Meta (Facebook/Instagram) ad payments as international transactions. Because of this:
Naira cards are subject to strict limits and may fail when trying to make international payments.
That’s why your payment might keep getting declined when you try to pay Meta directly with a Naira-based card.
2. The Solution: Use a USD Card
Thankfully, Timon provides a USD VISA card, which works for international transactions, including Meta.
But before using your Timon USD card, there’s one important thing to do.
Steps to Pay for Meta Ads with Your Timon USD Card
Step 1: Create a New Ad Account (if needed)
If your current Meta ad account is set to NGN (Naira), you won't be able to fund it using a USD card.
So, you need to:
Go to Meta Business Manager
Create a new ad account
During setup, choose USD as the billing currency
Set your time zone as preferred (usually Africa/Lagos)
You can’t change the currency of an existing ad account, so creating a new one is necessary if your current one is in Naira.
Step 2: Add Your Timon USD VISA Card
After setting up the new USD ad account, go to Payment Settings
Choose “Add Payment Method”
Select Credit or Debit Card
Enter your Timon USD VISA card details
Save and confirm
Step 3: Start Running Your Ads
You can now:
Fund your new ad account in USD
Start your campaign
And rest easy knowing your payment won’t bounce
Quick Recap
What to Do | Why |
Use a Timon USD card | Naira cards are restricted for international payments |
Create a USD ad account | Meta won’t allow USD card payments on Naira accounts |
Set the billing currency to USD from the start | You can’t change it later |