All Bank USSD Codes in Nigeria (2026): The Complete Cheat Sheet
No data, no problem. USSD lets you transfer money, check your balance, buy airtime and pay bills on any phone — just by dialling a short code. Here is the verified list for Nigeria's main banks and fintechs, how the billing changed in 2025, and the security rules that keep it safe.
Security first: your USSD PIN is as sensitive as your card PIN. Never share it, dial codes only from your own registered number, and remember: no bank ever asks for your PIN or OTP by call or SMS.
Commercial banks
| Bank | USSD code |
|---|---|
| GTBank (GTCO) | *737# |
| Access Bank | *901# |
| Zenith Bank | *966# |
| UBA | *919# |
| First Bank | *894# |
| Fidelity Bank | *770# |
| FCMB | *329# |
| Sterling Bank | *822# |
| Stanbic IBTC | *909# |
| Ecobank | *326# |
| Wema Bank / ALAT | *945# |
| Union Bank | *826# |
| Polaris Bank | *833# |
| Unity Bank | *7799# |
| Keystone Bank | *7111# |
Fintechs / digital banks
| Provider | USSD code |
|---|---|
| OPay | *955# |
| PalmPay | *861# |
| Moniepoint | *5573# |
| Kuda | No dedicated USSD — fund from another bank's code |
How USSD banking is billed since June 2025
This is the part most cheat sheets miss. For years banks deducted USSD fees from your bank account and remitted them to the telcos, which led to a long-running dispute between banks and mobile networks and periodic threats to cut the service off. The Nigerian Communications Commission ended that model.
From 3 June 2025, under the NCC's End-User Billing policy:
- Each USSD banking session costs a flat ₦6.98 per 120 seconds, replacing the old ₦1.63 per 20 seconds that confused people with split-session charges.
- The fee is deducted from your airtime, not your bank account, by your network (MTN, Airtel, Glo or 9mobile).
- You see a consent prompt at the start of the session and are only charged once you confirm and the bank is available to complete the request.
- Banks had to notify customers of the change and must let you opt out of USSD banking if you prefer.
Practical consequences: keep a little airtime on the line you bank from, and if you see an unexplained bank-account debit labelled "USSD" after June 2025, query it — it should no longer be happening. The transfer itself may still attract the bank's own transfer charge, which is separate from the session fee — see Nigerian bank charges explained.
How to use the codes
Dial the base code and follow the menu. Common shortcuts (examples):
- GTBank:
*737*1#to send money;*737*Amount#to buy airtime. - Zenith:
*966*0#to check balance;*966*Amount#to buy airtime. - Most banks:
*Code*Amount*AccountNumber#sends money, then asks for your PIN.
Each bank's menu differs slightly — the first time, dial the base code and follow the prompts to register, set your PIN and see all options. Registration usually needs the phone number already linked to your account and the last digits of your debit card.
Bank or fintech: does it matter for USSD?
Functionally, no — all of the codes above work on any phone. Where it matters is deposit protection. Balances at a deposit money bank are insured by the NDIC up to ₦5,000,000 per depositor; balances with a mobile money operator are covered up to ₦5,000,000 per subscriber, and microfinance-bank and payment-service-bank balances up to ₦2,000,000. Check which licence your fintech operates under before parking a large sum there.
Staying safe on USSD
- Never share your USSD PIN or any OTP — with anyone, including "bank staff". A real bank employee never needs it.
- Dial only from your registered phone number. Codes will not work from another line, and a request to "try from my phone" is a red flag.
- If your SIM is lost or swapped, tell your bank immediately and ask it to block USSD on the line. SIM-swap fraud targets USSD precisely because it needs no data and no app. See how to protect yourself from bank fraud.
- Check the session fee prompt — it should show ₦6.98 and ask for consent. A prompt asking for your PIN before you have chosen a transaction is not your bank.
- Watch your balance alerts and query any debit you do not recognise the same day.
Choosing an everyday account or a low-fee neobank? Compare them on our bank accounts page and see reviews like OPay and GTBank.
Frequently asked questions
What is the GTBank USSD code? *737# — dial it to transfer, buy airtime, check your balance and more without data.
Does Kuda have a USSD code? No — Kuda is app-first and has no dedicated USSD code; you fund it from another bank using that bank's code.
How much does a USSD session cost? ₦6.98 per 120 seconds, deducted from your airtime after a consent prompt, under the NCC's End-User Billing policy in force since 3 June 2025.
Are USSD transactions safe? Yes, if you guard your PIN, dial from your own number, and never share an OTP. Report a lost or swapped SIM to your bank at once.
Educational information, not financial advice. USSD codes are accurate as at 2026 but can change — confirm your bank's current code and charges with the bank, and never share your PIN or OTP.
