The codes
Dial the code from the phone number registered to your account. Every one of these runs on NIBSS Instant Payment underneath, so a transfer clears in seconds to any Nigerian bank.
| Bank | USSD code | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| GTBank | *737# | GTBank |
| First Bank | *894# | First Bank |
| UBA | *919# | UBA |
| Zenith Bank | *966# | Zenith |
| Access Bank | *901# | Access |
| Fidelity Bank | *770# | Fidelity |
| Union Bank | *826# | Union Bank |
| Sterling Bank | *822# | Sterling |
| Wema Bank / ALAT | *945# | Wema · ALAT |
| FCMB | *329# | — |
| Ecobank | *326# | Ecobank |
| Stanbic IBTC | *909# | Stanbic IBTC |
| Jaiz Bank | *773# | Jaiz |
| Keystone Bank | *7111# | — |
| Polaris Bank | *833# | — |
| Unity Bank | *7799# | — |
| Heritage Bank | *745# | — |
| Kuda | *5573# | Kuda |
| Opay | *955# | Opay |
| PalmPay | *861# | PalmPay |
Two honest caveats about any USSD list, including this one. Codes for newer banks and fintechs change more often than those for the tier-1 banks, and some institutions run several codes for different services. If your bank is not listed, or the code here does not work, get it from your bank's own app or by calling them — not from a search result, and never from a code sent to you in a message. We maintain this table, and a bank's own channel is still the authoritative source.
Making a transfer by USSD
Dial from your registered number
USSD authenticates by SIM. It will not work from another phone.
Choose Transfer, then follow the prompts
Most banks also support a shortcut format — for example
*737*Amount*AccountNumber#on GTBank. Check your bank's exact syntax.Confirm the recipient name before you approve
The name is displayed. Read it. This is your only check against a wrong account number.
Enter your USSD PIN
Four or five digits, separate from your card PIN. Never share it and never enter it after following a link.
Keep the confirmation SMS
It contains the session or reference number, which you need if anything goes wrong.
Limits and costs
| Item | Typical |
|---|---|
| Per-transaction limit | Commonly ₦20,000 to ₦100,000 depending on bank and how your PIN was set up |
| Daily limit | Commonly ₦100,000 to ₦200,000 on the USSD channel |
| Transfer fee | ₦10–₦50, the standard NIP band |
| Session charge | A small telco charge per session on some networks |
| Settlement | Real time — seconds |
| Raising the limit | Through your bank's app or a branch; USSD limits are deliberately conservative |
The USSD channel carries lower limits than the app on purpose, because SIM-based authentication is weaker than app authentication. Do not plan a large crypto purchase around USSD — use the app or a branch for anything above the daily cap.
Can you fund a crypto trade with USSD?
Yes, with two qualifications. USSD moves naira to any Nigerian account through NIP, which is exactly what funding a crypto purchase requires — whether you are paying a P2P merchant's bank account or an exchange's naira deposit account.
| Task | Works by USSD? |
|---|---|
| Paying a P2P merchant's bank account | Yes — within your daily limit |
| Funding an exchange's naira deposit account | Yes — within your daily limit |
| Moving your own money between your accounts | Yes |
| Buying crypto directly | No. No Nigerian bank USSD menu sells crypto. |
| A purchase above ₦200,000 | No — use the app |
The narration problem with USSD. Most USSD flows do not offer a narration field at all, which is actually helpful — an empty narration is the safest one. Where a reference field does appear, never type crypto, USDT, Bitcoin or trading into it. See banks and crypto.
When a USSD transaction fails
USSD failures are common and almost always resolve. What matters is doing the right thing in the first few minutes.
Do not retry immediately
A "failed" session frequently completed on the bank's side and only the response was lost. Retrying is how people send twice.
Check your balance first
Dial the balance option, or check your app. If the debit went through and the recipient was credited, there is nothing to fix.
If debited and not credited, wait
Reversals on a failed NIP transfer are usually automatic within 24 hours, and the regulatory expectation is prompt resolution.
Then log a complaint in writing with the reference
The session or reference number from your SMS. Keep the ticket number.
If you are mid-P2P-trade, tell the merchant and extend the window
Do not let the escrow timer expire in silence — message the merchant with the reference and open a dispute rather than cancelling. See P2P guide.
Escalate to the CBN consumer protection route if unresolved
In writing, with your ticket history.
USSD security, honestly
- Your SIM is the key. A SIM-swap attack — where someone has your number reissued — gives an attacker your USSD banking. Ask your network about a port lock if they offer one.
- A lost phone with an unlocked SIM is a banking risk. Report and block the SIM before anything else.
- Nobody legitimate ever asks for your USSD PIN. Not your bank, not support, not an agent.
- Never dial a code someone sent you. Codes in messages can register a third party for services on your line. Only dial codes you obtained from your bank.
- Deregister USSD if you lose the SIM permanently, through your bank's app or a branch.
Why this channel matters in Nigeria
It is easy to overlook USSD if you live on a smartphone with a data plan. A very large number of Nigerians do not, and for them USSD is not a fallback — it is banking. It works on the cheapest handset, in areas with no reliable data, at zero data cost, and it settles in seconds.
For crypto specifically that means the on-ramp is available to far more people than app-based flows suggest. Someone in a smaller market town with a feature phone can fund a P2P trade through a POS agent and USSD, and complete the crypto side on a shared device. Our broader guide to the channel is USSD banking.
Frequently asked questions
What is the USSD code for GTBank?
*737#. The other major codes are *894# for First Bank, *919# for UBA, *966# for Zenith, *901# for Access, *770# for Fidelity, *826# for Union Bank and *822# for Sterling — the full table is at the top of this page.
Can I buy crypto with USSD in Nigeria?
Not directly — no Nigerian bank USSD menu sells crypto. But you can use USSD to transfer naira to a P2P merchant's account or an exchange's naira deposit account, which is exactly what funding a crypto purchase requires, subject to your daily USSD limit.
What is the USSD transfer limit in Nigeria?
Commonly ₦20,000 to ₦100,000 per transaction and ₦100,000 to ₦200,000 daily, depending on your bank. USSD limits are deliberately lower than app limits because SIM-based authentication is weaker, so use the app for anything larger.
What should I do if my USSD transaction fails?
Do not retry immediately — a failed session often completed on the bank's side and only the response was lost, and retrying is how people send twice. Check your balance, wait up to 24 hours for an automatic reversal if you were debited without the recipient being credited, then log a written complaint with the session reference.
Is USSD banking safe for crypto transfers?
The channel itself is fine and settles in seconds. The risk is your SIM: a SIM-swap attack gives an attacker your USSD banking, so ask your network about a port lock, report a lost SIM immediately, never share your USSD PIN, and never dial a code somebody sent you.
Do I need internet for USSD?
No. That is the point of the channel — it works on any handset with no data connection and no smartphone, which is why a very large number of Nigerians rely on it as their primary banking channel.
What should I write in the reference field for a crypto-related USSD transfer?
Most USSD flows have no narration field at all, which is the safest option. Where one appears, leave it blank or write something neutral — never crypto, USDT, Bitcoin or trading, which bank monitoring systems screen for.
Related guides
Last reviewed: 2026-09-09. We update this page whenever Nigerian rules, fees or platform availability change. Nothing here is financial, tax or legal advice — see our editorial policy.
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