What is USSD Banking and How Does It Work?
USSD – unstructured supplementary service data.
It, sounds a bit complicated, and can get technical very quickly, but for the purposes of financial inclusion, there are two key things to understand. First, when you dial a number that starts with * and ends with #, you are using USSD. Second, USSD is currently the best available communications technology to deliver mobile financial services to low-income customers.
USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) is a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) protocol that is used to send text messages. USSD is similar to Short Message Service (SMS).
USSD uses codes made up of the characters that are available on a mobile phone. A USSD message, which can be up to 182 characters long, establishes a real-time communication session between the phone and another device -- typically, a network or server.
USSD can be used for Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) browsing, mobile money services, prepaid callback service, menu-based information services and location-based content services.
With USSD, users interact directly from their mobile phones by making selections from various menus. Unlike an SMS message, during a USSD session, a USSD message creates a real-time connection. This means USSD enables two-way communication of information, as long as the communication line stays open. As such, queries and answers are nearly instantaneous.
How to use USSD code for banking operations
Here is a simple step to activate and start using your bank's USSD code. This applies to all the banks listed above.
Input the bank's USSD code on your phone and dial it using the phone number associated with that particular bank account.
Follow through with the prompt displayed on your phone's display.
If it is your first time using the bank USSD code, you will be required to set up a PIN to approve or verify your future transactions.
After setting up your PIN, you are good to go. The procedure is simple. Dial the USSD short code; a list of services will be listed out for you; follow through with the prompt depending on what you want to do.
You can transfer to an account in the same bank, transfer to another bank, top-up airtime, open a new account,
List of Bank Transfer codes:
* GTB_(*737#)
Fidelity Bank_(*770#)
First Bank_(*894#)
Sterling Bank_(*822#)
Skye Bank_(*833#)
UBA_(*919#)
EcoBank_(*326#)
Zenith Bank_(*966#)
Stanbic Bank_(*909#)
Access Bank Bank_(*901#)
Wema Bank_(*945#)
Diamond Bank_(*426#)
Unity Bank_(*389 *215#)
Heritage Bank_*322#
KeyStone Bank_(*322 *082#)
Union Bank_(*389 *038#)
Fcmb_(*329#) or _(*389 *214#)
EcoBank_(*326# )
Ja'iz Bank (*389*301#); *
The code to check BVN : Dial *565*0#
For your National Identification Number *NIN* Dial *346# in your phone number you used for registration of NIMC.
*Also* To confirm ur NHF registration/number, dal *219# from d number u used to register.
Note! Knowing how to Block your account is very important because in times of emergency running to the bank might be too late more especially during weekend. So share as it might help some one.
UBA dial *919*10# from the mobile line linked to your account Fidelity Bank dial *770*911# from the mobile line linked to your account IBTC Bank dial *909# from the mobile line linked to your account Zenith Bank dial *966*911# First Bank send Block to 30012 via text message Union Bank send BLOCK CARD NUBAN to 20123 Key stone Bank call 23470020003000 Sterling Bank call 070078378464 GT Bank *737*51*10# Stanbic IBTC Bank *909# select my bank and select service request then select block card EcoBank text STOP ATM your account Number to 0806326226 FCMB Bank call + 2342798800 Access call +23412802500 Polaris call +2341270850 Wema Bank call 08039003700 I therefore challenge you to share as it might help some one.