The acronym USSD means Unstructured Supplementary Service Data sometimes referred to as “quick codes”, is a communications protocol used by phones to communicate with the mobile network operator’s computers or other networks.
In Nigeria, Banks have adopted USSD as a mobile banking application to enable their customers make a transfer to a third party – vendor (payment for goods and services), family, friends or whoever they need to transfer money to instantly. This is done through your phone instantly through your phone network. You do not need an internet connection to carry out a USSD transaction. It works the same was as SMS.
How to perform bank transactions with USSD codes
- First, type in your bank’s USSD code into your phone (registered with the bank) and press call button
- Follow the prompt as displayed on your phone.
- If you are using a bank’s USSD code for the first time, you will be asked to set up a PIN which you will be using to approve transactions. Some banks may require you to use the last 4 – 6 digits of your debit/ATM card as your security PIN.
Nigerian Banks USSD codes
| S. No | Bank | USSD |
| 1 | Access Bank | *901# |
| 2 | Citibank | N/A |
| 3 | EcoBank | *326# |
| 4 | Fidelity Bank | *770# |
| 5 | First Bank | *894# |
| 6 | First City Monument Bank (FCMB) | *329# |
| 7 | Globus Bank Limited | N/A |
| 8 | Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) | *737# |
| 9 | Heritage Bank | *322# |
| 10 | JAIZ Bank | *389# |
| 11 | Keystone Bank | *7111# |
| 12 | Polaris Bank | *833# |
| 13 | Providus Bank | N/A |
| 14 | Stanbic IBTC Bank | *909# |
| 15 | Standard Chartered Bank | *977# |
| 16 | Sterling Bank | *822# |
| 17 | Suntrust Bank Nigeria Limited | N/A |
| 18 | Titan Trust Bank Ltd | N/A |
| 19 | United Bank for Africa (UBA) | *919# |
| 20 | Union Bank | *826# |
| 21 | Unity Bank | *7799# |
| 22 | Wema Bank | *945# |
| 23 | Zenith Bank | *966# |
| 24 | TajBank | *898# |