List of Nigerian Banks USSD Transfer Codes
Online payments have evolved over the years to become the order of the day, as more people are choosing e-payments over traditional bank deposits and withdrawals. From mobile bank apps to virtual banking, down to mobile money services, there are just a whole lot of trends to aid seamless mobile payments across the globe.

One of such trends is the use of the USSD code (USSD banking). The USSD banking has become a go-to option for mobile payments, especially for people in rural settlements or just anyone who is out of internet connection but needs to make payments online. People can now shop, pay bills, get help and even send money online using special number codes, without the need for internet connections.

This article answers the question “What is USSD banking and how does it work, including its benefits, and the list of Nigerian banks’ USSD transfer codes for your convenience. Read along.

What is USSD Banking and How Does It Work?
The acronym USSD stands for “unstructured supplementary service data,” and it’s a technology that has been around since the early ‘90s. It was developed by the GSM Association, the trade organization behind most of the world’s cell phone standards.

USSD banking is an SMS-based mobile banking service, where a USSD shortcode is used to access financial services like transfers, bill payments, airtime recharges, etc. USSD banking is a safe, convenient, and cost-effective means of accessing financial services on your phone without the use of an internet connection.

What makes USSD particularly appealing for financial services is its inclusivity - it reaches customers with older phones, non-smartphones, and those who don’t have access to the internet through their cell service provider. Moreover, these customers make up the majority of the market (bank users) in developing countries, making it an invaluable resource for banks in those areas. Banks in Nigeria are not left out in the USSD hurdle as most traditional and digital banks have adopted personalized USSD codes to aid seamless financial services at all times. Thereby, creating room for more people to access financial services on the go without the hassles of using the internet.

That said, let’s find out how the USSD codes work.

So, How Does The USSD Banking Work?
To access USSD banking, a USSD shortcode is used to create a 2-way communication between the bank and the customer. The replies then come in a pop-up (Screen prompt) with numbered menus and they’re ‘tied” service options to guide the user to the services that they need. To use the USSD code for any bank transaction, you would need to activate the code on your mobile phone, using your choice phone number. For most banks, you must have registered for a new account, or have an old bank account with them, before you can access those financial services.

You would also need to set up a 4 or 5-digit transaction PIN to authorize all transactions. This PIN would also serve as a shield to prevent impersonators or fraudsters from accessing your account. However, just like every other security breach, your PIN can be compromised or changed if the person gets hold of your ATM card or other personal details. Therefore, you have to be careful with your card, personal details, and mobile phone at all times. It is also not advisable to store your PIN on your mobile phone or use a PIN that can be easily guessed, i.e, date of birth, house number, etc.

Nonetheless, while this mode of mobile banking may have its shortcomings, USSD banking is unarguably beneficial to the user and bank as well. Below are some of the benefits of USSD banking:

Benefits of USSD Banking

Made-easy Account Opening: USSD banking offers convenience and comfort at little or no extra charges. You can open an account with USSD banking without hassles, so long as your mobile phone is connected to your network provider. You also do not need long paperwork or minimum balance to create a bank account.

No Physical Bank Stress: Asides from periodic maintenance which may lead to service downtimes, USSD banking saves you stress and time. You don’t need to queue up at any bank to carry out transactions on your account, thereby, helping you save time for other important activities.

Unlimited Access to Financial Services: Whether it is to pay bills, send money, or check your account balance, you can do all that and many more with USSD banking. And at any time you wish.

No Internet Needed: Unlike internet banking and mobile banking which means additional costs on internet fees, USSD banking provides a no-cost means of enjoying banking services on your mobile phone. All you need is a working mobile phone and you’re good to go.

List of Nigerian Banks’ USSD Shortcodes
The table below includes different Nigerian Bank accounts and their respective shortcodes.

Access Bank 901#
ALAT Bank 945#
Ecobank 326#
FCMB 329#
Fidelity Bank 770#
First Bank 894#
GTBank 737#
Heritage Bank 745#
Keystone Bank 7111#
Polaris Bank 833#
Stanbic IBTC Bank 909#
Sterling Bank 822#
UBA 919#
Union Bank 826#
Unity Bank 7799#
Wema Bank 945#
Zenith Bank *966#

Different Nigerian Banks and Their Personalized USSD Transaction Codes
The following tables cover the 17 different Nigerian Banks and their personalized transaction codes. You can use these codes to make interbank and interbank transfers, pay bills, check account balances, block or unblock your ATM cards, update BVN, etc., With a few clicks on your phone. What’s more? You don’t even need internet connections to carry out any of these functions. Here’s the list…

1. Access Bank USSD Codes (*901#)

Transaction Type USSD Code

Airtime Top-Up for Self 901Amount#
Airtime Top-Up for Others 901AmountPhone Number#
Deactivate Account 901911#
Pay bills 9013#
Transfer to Other banks 9012AMOUNTNUBAN Account Number#
Transfer to Access Account 9011AMOUNTNUBAN Account Number#
Check Balance 901*00#
Account Opening/ PIN Change/

Registration

9010#

1. ALAT Bank USSD Codes (*945#)

Transaction Type USSD Code

Airtime Top-Up for Others 945phone NumberAmount#
Airtime Top-Up for Self 945Amount#
Check balance 9450#
Transfer to ALAT Account 945Account NumberAmount#
Transfer to Other banks 945Account Number*Amount#

1. Ecobank USSD Codes (*326#)

Transaction Type USSD Code

Airtime Top-Up for Others 326AmountPhoneNumber#
Airtime Top-Up for Self 326Amount#
Check balance 3260#
Pay bills 326#
Transfer to Ecobank Account 326#
Transfer to Other banks 326#

1. Fidelity Bank USSD Codes (*770#)

Transaction Type USSD Code

Airtime Top-Up for Others 770PHONEAMOUNT#
Airtime Top-Up for Self 770AMOUNT#
ATM cardless withdrawal 7708AMOUNT#
Block Account from USSD Banking 77008012345678#
Block Card 770911#
Block Phone from USSD Banking 77091108012345678#
Change PIN 77000#
Check balance 7700#
Choose SMS and Email Alert 7702#
Pay bills 770#
Transfer to Fidelity Account 770ACCOUNTAMOUNT#
Transfer to Other banks 770ACCOUNTAMOUNT#
Update BVN 77002#

1. FCMB USSD Codes (*329#)

Transaction Type USSD Code

Airtime Top-Up for Others 329AmountMobile number#
Airtime Top-Up for Self 329*Amount#
Block USSD Profile or

Bank Account

329911#
Buy Data 3291Mobile Number#
Check balance 32900#
Pay bills (DSTv/GOTv) 3292AmountSmartcard Number#
Pay Electricity Bill 3293AmountMeter No# or 3293AmountAccountID#
Reset PIN 3290#
Transfer to FCMB Account/

Other banks

329Amount*Account number#

1. First Bank USSD Codes (*894#)

Transaction Type USSD Code

Account Opening 8940#
Airtime Recharge for Others 894AmountPhone Number#
Airtime Recharge for Self 894Amount#
Check Balance 89400#
Deactivate Your Mobile Number 894911#
Mini-Statement 894Account Number#
Register for USSD Banking 894*0
Transfer to First Bank/

Other bank Accounts

894Amount*Account Number#

1. GTBank USSD Codes (*737#)

Transaction Type USSD Code

Account Opening

7370#
Airtime Top-Up for Others 737AmountRecipient’s number#
Airtime Top-Up for Self 737*amount#
Check Account Number/

Check Balance/BVN

73761#
Create PIN 7375#
Data Top-Up 7374#
Make Enquires 7376#
Reactivate Account 73711#
Transfer to GTBank Account 7371AmountNUBAN Account Number#
Transfer to Other banks 7372Amount*NUBAN Account Number#

1. Heritage Bank USSD Codes (*745#)

How to activate heritage bank transfer codes

Transaction Type USSD Code

Airtime (Self) 745Amount#
Airtime (Third Party) 745AmountMobileNumber#
Balance Enquiry 7450#
Bet9ja Top-up 745222Bet9jaUserIDAmount#
Block Your Account from any phone 74511#
Change USSD PIN 74500#
Transfer to a Heritage Bank Account 7451AmountAccountNumber#
Transfer to Other Banks 7452AmountAccountNumber#
LCC Payment 745000522+etagNo+100#
Pay with USSD (on POS/Web) 745000RefCode#
USSD Registration With ATM Card 745AccountNumberLast6DigitOfCard#
USSD Registration Without ATM Card 745AccountNumber#

1. Keystone Bank USSD Codes (*7111#)

Transaction Type USSD Code

Activate Debit Card 71119123#
Change your default Top-up Account: 7111AcctNo#
Check account balance 711100#
Check balance 71111#
Mobile Data Top-Up 7111*5#
Panic Code

(In case of theft/password compromise)

7111911#
Pay bills 71112#
Recharge for others 7111AmountPhone Number#
Recharge your phone 7111Amount#
Send Money 7111AmountNuban Account Number#
USSD Registration 71110#

1. Polaris Bank USSD Codes (*833#)

How to activate polaris bank ussd codes

Transaction Type USSD Code

Airtime Top-Up for Others 833AMOUNTPHONENUMBER#
Airtime Top-Up for Self 833AMOUNT#
Check balance 8336#
Opening Account 8331#
Pay bills 8332#
Pay With MasterPass 8337#
Transfer to Polaris Account/Others 833AMOUNTACCOUNTNUMBER#
Update BVN 8335#

1. Stanbic IBTC Bank USSD Codes (*909#)

Transaction Type USSD Code

Airtime Top-Up for Others 909Amountphone number#
Airtime Top-Up for Self 909Amount#
Check balance 90911#
Transfer to Other banks 90922AmountAccount Number#
Transfer to Stanbic Account 90911AmountAccount Number#

1. Sterling Bank USSD Codes (*822#)

how to create ussd pin for sterling bank

Transaction Type USSD Code

Airtime Top-Up for Others 822AmountPhone Number#
Airtime Top-Up for Self 822Amount#
Check Account Number 8228#
Check balance 8226#
Register for USSD Service 8221NUBAN#
Transfer to Other banks 8225AmountAccount Number#
Transfer to Sterling Account 8224Amount*Account Number#

1. UBA USSD ShortCodes (*919#)

Transaction Type USSD Code

Airtime Top-Up for Others 919 Phone number Amount#
Airtime Top-Up for Self 919Amount#
ATM cardless withdrawal 91930Amount#
Check balance 91900#
Load UBA Prepaid Card 91932#
Pay bills 9195#
Transfer to Other banks 9194account numberamount#
Transfer to UBA Account 9193account numberamount#

1. Union Bank USSD Codes (*826#)

Transaction Type USSD Code

Airtime Top-Up for Others 826amountrecipient’s mobile no#
Airtime Top-Up for Self 826amount#
Check balance 826#
Create PIN 8265#
Register 826#
Transfer to Other banks 8262amountaccount no#
Transfer to Union Account 8261amount*account no#

1. Unity Bank USSD Codes (*7799#)

Transaction Type USSD Code

Balance inquiry 77990#
Bet9ja Wallet funding 7799403Bet9ja IDamount#
Block account 77999phone number#
BVN verification 77995#
Cardless withdrawal 77998Amount#
Self recharge 7799Amount#
Third-party Airtime Recharge 7799Phonenoamount#
Transfer to Other banks 77992accountnoamount#
Transfer to Unitybank 77991accountnoamount#
USSD on POS 7799000RefID#

1. Wema Bank USSD Codes (*945#)

Transaction Type USSD Code

Airtime Top-Up for Others 945phone NumberAmount#
Airtime Top-Up for Self 945Amount#
Check balance 9450#
Transfer to Other banks 945Account NumberAmount#
Transfer to Wema Account 945Account Number*Amount#

1. Zenith Bank USSD Codes (*966#)

Transaction Type USSD Code

Airtime Top-Up for Self/Others 966AmountMobile Number#
Block ATM Card 96660#
Check balance 96600#
Deactivate Account 966911#
Deactivate Mobile Banking Profile 966200#
Opening Account 9660#
Other Self Service 96660#
Pay bills (DSTv/PHCN) 9667AmountCustomer ID#
Pay Zenith Billers 9666Biller codeAmount#
Reset USSD Password/PIN 96660#
Transfer to Zenith Account

/Other Banks

966AmountAccount Number#
Update BVN 966*BVN#

Conclusion
In the end, USSD banking is a simple and cost-effective way to handle your finances without going through bank stress or other intermediaries. You can use USSD codes to perform simple banking tasks from your mobile phone. You can make transfers, view account balances, and even do something as complex as applying for a loan. Many banks, financial institutions, Government establishments, and even healthcare offices have rapidly adopted USSD banking in the last few years, and the growth is expected to continue in the years to come.

Although there are some limitations to what USSD banking can do. However, the platform is safe, secure, and convenient. What’s more, it is a great way to save money, time, and effort when accessing your bank account whenever you need to.

Thankfully, the list of Nigerian Bank USSD codes above will serve as a guide, so you know what codes or USSD commands to use whenever you need any of these services from your bank.

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