Last updated on September 27th, 2023 at 06:24 pm
The rapid and continuous rise in digital transactions opened the market to more fraudulent activities, especially in Nigeria.
As a result, the government introduced a biometric identification system. This system exists to reduce and eventually curb fraudulent and illegal banking transactions in Nigeria. The Central Bank of Nigeria implemented it in line with the Act 1958.
BVN means Bank Verification Number. It is a unique set of 11 digits that is linked to all your bank accounts, and consequentially, all your bank transactions.
Essentially, it is like your identity in the banking space and can track your activities across different banks. It requires those who have different bank accounts to link all their accounts to a single BVN after registering for one. BVN uniquely verifies each bank’s customer for “know your customer” purposes.
Having a BVN is currently compulsory to own and operate a bank account in Nigeria. Your bank accounts would freeze and remain frozen without one. This applies to all types of bank accounts.
Registering for your BVN is a pretty simple and straightforward process. Follow the steps below to successfully register:
Many banks today now offer a completely digital process, where you can download the form online. After getting your BVN, the next step is to link it to all your other bank accounts. Simply visit your bank, where they will give you a form to complete the process.
With the NIBBS BVN online portal, retrieving your BVN can be effortlessly completed in a few simple steps:
Upon payment confirmation, you’ll be redirected to a page showing your BVN details.
You can also validate your BVN on their portal through the following steps:
The best way to check your BVN is to dial the code *565*#. While this approach has its limitations, it offers the advantage of being easy, and accessible, and doesn’t require an internet connection making the process seamless. The code should be dialed using the same phone number linked to your BVN during registration.
You can check your BVN directly by dialing *565*0# on the dial pad. After dialing the code, you will receive a notification of your BVN number.
Note: You will be charged a maximum of N20. As a result, saving the number somewhere so you don’t have to pay for it every time you need it is a good idea.
Checking your BVN on Glo is easy and effortless. All you need to get started is a Glo-registered SIM card and an active account balance. Below are the steps:
Simply dial *565*0# to get started, then your BVN number will be displayed.
Note: You will be charged a maximum of N20.
You can get your BVN with an Airtel sim effortlessly. Just follow the steps below:
Note: If you are a client of a Nigerian bank that has been authorized by the Central Bank of Nigeria. You can use the *565*0# code. Aside from that, this service is not free.
From the information above, you now understand how you can use a mobile phone to check your BVN. Mobile network operators in Nigeria such as MTN, Etisalat, Airtel, and GLO use the universal code *565*0# to verify BVN. If you’re looking for a quick way to retrieve your BVN number, this code will come in handy.
To check your BVN online, you must have registered and gotten your unique 11 digits from your bank. Now, to see this number online, simply log into your bank app. Click on the menu option and your BVN should be displayed there.
The location of the number, however, varies from one banking app to another.
Note that there is no current online platform where you can register or change your BVN at the time of this writing. Ignore websites that claim to do that, as they are most likely fraudulent.
You can check your BVN for all banks by dialing the shortcode (*565*0#) on the line registered to that account. The prompt will display your BVN immediately. However, note that charges may apply depending on the charge carrier (GLO, MTN, Airtel, or 9Mobile) in question.
You can check your BVN on UBA through any of the following means:
Follow the steps below to check your BVN on UBA through the mobile app:
Follow the steps below to check your BVN on UBA through the mobile app:
Follow the steps below to check your BVN on UBA through internet banking:
The short answer to this is, yes. You do. Getting a loan with your BVN is not complicated. All Fintech platforms now require your BVN to give you a loan.
This is because they can easily track defaulters down and make a case to get back their money. Unlike commercial or microfinance banks, these fintech companies do not require you to complete loan forms or tender collateral. Rather, it’s simply a process of downloading their app, registering, and getting an instant loan.
This is one of the advantages of having a BVN. It provides you access to quick loans that you might otherwise not get. Some examples of such companies that can offer you fast loans are:
Each of these loan service providers has different requirements, interest rates, tenures, and repayment channels. Some of them allow you to take multiple loans at a time, while others do not.
Here are easy steps to check BVN on your mobile banking app:
However, note that different bank apps have the information in separate locations. Therefore, browse the web to find yours.
Some of the benefits of having a BVN include:
Here’s my experience and the simple steps I took to check my BVN effortlessly:
When I first wanted to check my BVN, I decided to visit the bank where I hold my account. The customer service desk was my first stop, where I politely requested to check my BVN. The bank staff asked me to provide some identification and answered a few security questions to ensure the safety of my personal information. After a quick verification process, they handed me a printout with my BVN.
For convenience, network service providers offer different USSD codes for BVN checking. Curious to explore this option, I took out my mobile phone and dialed the USSD code provided by my network provider (select yours from the discussions above). The user-friendly interface guided me through the process step by step. Within seconds, I received a message displaying my BVN, ensuring that I could access this vital information anytime and anywhere.
There are primarily three ways you can check your BVN without airtime. We’ve highlighted three of these ways below:
All Nigerian banks have mobile apps that allow their customers to easily access some banking services from the convenience of their homes. With this bank app, you can also access your bank details and profile after you sign up and it is linked to your account. If you want to retrieve your BVN via your bank’s mobile app, follow the steps below:
Although this process does not cost you airtime, you will still need data to connect to your bank’s mobile app.
You can also take advantage of the Internet banking platform provided by your bank to easily retrieve your BVN without airtime. Although this process does not cost you airtime, you will still need data to connect to your bank’s mobile app. Here’s what to do:
You can always retrieve your BVN by simply logging into your Internet banking profile through your bank’s official website.
If you are not satisfied with the two methods mentioned above, you can also visit your bank’s nearest branch to retrieve your BVN without airtime or data. All you have to do is go to the bank and request your BVN while carrying these documents as evidence:
Take these documents to the bank and your BVN will be given to you in no time. The best part is that this method is completely free of charge.
No, you cannot change your BVN number once it is issued. Your BVN number remains the same across all your accounts for different banks.
No, you can only have one BVN number per identity. This is because it is an 11-digit number that is used to identify you uniquely across all Nigerian banks
You cannot check your BVN with a number not linked to the account in question. Therefore, you will need to use the bank app, visit the bank, or dial the code from the number registered to the account.
BVN is a very important and beneficial development in the banking industry. Its ability to create a unique identity for customers has reduced fraud and also simplified loaning processes. Hopefully, you’re now well-informed on the different ways to check BVN details without having to walk into any banking hall.
