Despite the hard times in Nigeria, Nigerian banks have started getting charges of Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) services for each transaction session.
Brand Spur Nigeria reports that the message many of the customers claim to have received is “Welcome to USSD Banking. Please note, an N6.98 network charge will be applied to your account for banking services on this channel.”
Recall the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) issued a unitary statement claiming that the new USSD charges were incorporated in order to foster transparency and is being collected for Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), who is in charge of providing structure for USSD services to operate in association with bank accounts.
The joint statement by CBN and NCC read, “We are pleased to announce that after comprehensive deliberations on the key issues, a resolution framework acceptable to all parties was agreed thus:
“Effective March 16, 2021, USSD services for financial transactions conducted at DMBs (Deposit Money Banks) and all CBN-licensed institutions will be charged at a flat fee of N6.98 per transaction. This replaces the current per session billing structure, ensuring a much cheaper average cost for customers to enhance financial inclusion.
‘’To promote transparency in its administration, the new USSD charges will be collected on behalf of MNOs (Mobile Network Operators) directly from customers’ bank accounts. Banks shall not impose additional charges on customers for use of the USSD channel.”
About Nigerian Banks And USSD Payment Method
The USSD payment option is one that is very important and helpful to persons who are unable to carry out physical banking or internet banking and it is unknown if the CBN in conjunction with the NCC will reconsider the decision.
Please note that Airtime and Data purchases via USSD are exempt from this charge despite the notification that may pop up.
Check Out USSD Code For Different Nigerian Banks
Access Bank USSD Code
The Access bank USSD code allows you to make transactions and enjoy other banking benefits and services right from your phone without internet connection or data and without visiting the bank.
Access bank’s USSD code is *901#.
EcoBank USSD Code
If you are an EcoBank customer, the Ecobank USSD code would always come handy whenever you want to make a transaction from your bank account.
The EcoBank USSD Code is *326#.
Fidelity Bank USSD Code
Once you have a fidelity bank account, this is very simple. Just dial the Fidelity Bank USSD code on your phone which is *770#. Select ‘Banking’ and start banking!
First Bank USSD Code
The First Bank of Nigeria provides USSD Banking Service for its customers which allow customers to make transactions on their phone devices using the USSD code.
The USSD code for First Bank of Nigeria is *894#.
First City Monument Bank (FCMB) USSD Code
Dial the First City Monument Bank USSD code to top up airtime on your mobile device, transfer funds, check account balance etc. The USSD code for First City Monument Bank is *389*214#.
Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) USSD Code
You can initiate a transfer or some other bank transaction by dialling the GTB USSD shortcode. The USSD shortcode for GTB is *737#.
Heritage Bank USSD Code
Do you have an account with heritage bank and seek a fast means of running transactions with the bank? It would help if you tried using the bank’s USSD shortcode. The USSD code for Heritage Bank is *322*00#.
Jaiz Bank USSD Code
JAIZ Bank may not be popular, especially for people in the southern part of Nigeria, but the bank does have a strong banking system. They are not left out in the use of USSD short codes.
The USSD code for Jaiz Bank is *389*301.
Keystone Bank USSD Code
The USSD banking code is the easiest and fastest means of checking account balance, sending money and airtime from your account to another account or mobile network.
The USSD code for Keystone Bank is *7111#.
Polaris Bank USSD Code
Polaris Bank USSD code is quick and simple to use. Simply dial the Polaris Bank USSD code, *833#, for your banking activities.
Stanbic IBTC Bank USSD Code
The Stanbic IBTC Bank also introduced the USSD code which works with any phone number registered to your bank account (just as it is with other banks).
The USSD code for Stanbic IBTC is *909#.
Sterling Bank USSD Code
The Unstructured Supplementary Service Data, USSD allows Sterling Bank customers to have access to basic financial services by merely dialling the USSD shortcode.
The USSD code for Sterling Bank is *822#.
United Bank for Africa (UBA) USSD Code
The UBA USSD code enables UBA customers to carry out a range of tasks such as to transfer funds, top-up airtime and even to open UBA account.
UBA USSD code is *919#.
Union Bank USSD Code
Here is an easy way to carry out basic banking operations from your union bank account – the use of the Union Bank USSD code.
For a Union Bank customer, you dial the Union Bank USSD code, *826#, to get started.
Unity Bank USSD Code
Transfer funds from your Unity Bank account using the USSD shortcode. The USSD code for Unity Bank is *7799#.
Wema Bank USSD Code
Wema Bank has a convenient banking shortcode that allows its bank account holders to carry out basic banking operations with ease.
The Wema Bank USSD code is *945#.
Zenith Bank USSD Code
Zenith Bank was among the first banks in Nigeria to launch the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) account control code which customers can use to make some bank transactions with ease.
The Zenith Bank USSD code is *966#.
