Why is my bank USSD code not working?

The most common reasons are dialling from a number that isn't the one registered with your bank, a recent SIM swap the bank hasn't updated, a USSD outage on your mobile network, or hitting your daily USSD limit. If the code fails for everyone on your network at once, it is usually the network, not your account.

Do I need data for USSD banking?

No. USSD runs over the basic mobile network, the same channel as calls and SMS, so it works with mobile data switched off and on phones that have no internet at all. You only need signal.

Can I use a USSD code on any phone?

Yes, any phone that can make a call, including basic feature phones. What matters is the SIM: most bank codes only work from the number linked to your account, so a different phone with your SIM in it works, but your codes on someone else's SIM usually won't, except for emergency block codes some banks allow from any number.

Is USSD banking safe?

Transactions need your USSD PIN, so someone who only knows your code cannot move money. The risk is the phone itself: if it is stolen unlocked, a thief with your PIN can transact. Never share your PIN or an OTP, and if your phone is lost, use your bank's block code or fraud line straight away.

What if I don't remember my USSD PIN?

Most banks let you reset it through the same USSD menu, usually by confirming the last digits of your debit card or your BVN. If that fails, visit a branch or call the customer-care line. Repeated wrong attempts can lock USSD access for a period, so don't keep guessing.

USSD Code Finder

Choose your bank or app and what you want to do, and get the exact code to dial, checked against the provider's own page.

1. Choose your bank or app

2. What do you want to do?

Pick a bank or app and an action to see the code.

How to use any Nigerian USSD code

Every USSD code starts with a star and ends with a hash. The * opens the request and separates each piece of information, and the # sends it. So in *894*1000*0123456789#, 894 is First Bank's service, 1000 is the amount and 0123456789 is the account. Where a code shows words like Amount or AccountNumber, replace them with your own figures and leave out spaces and commas.

Dial from the phone number registered on your bank account. That number is how the bank identifies you; the same code from a different SIM will usually return an error or ask you to register. The first time, most banks ask you to set up USSD with the last digits of your debit card and to create a four-digit PIN.

Anything that moves money asks for that PIN before it goes through, and many banks send an SMS confirmation after.

You don't need mobile data, and you don't need airtime on your line to start a session. The bank deducts any USSD charge from your account, not your airtime, and the charge differs by bank. Shortcut codes simply skip menu steps; if you forget one, dial the root code, such as *737#, and follow the menu.

Why USSD codes stop working sometimes

The number isn't registered. If you opened your account with an old line, the bank still has that one. Update your phone number at a branch or through the bank's app, then register for USSD again.

A SIM swap the bank doesn't know about. After replacing a SIM, many banks block USSD on that number for a period as a fraud check, even though the number is the same. If your codes stopped right after a SIM replacement, this is the likely cause; call the bank to lift it.

A network-side outage. USSD depends on your mobile network as much as your bank. When an operator's USSD gateway is down or overloaded, codes time out or show "connection problem or invalid MMI code" for everyone on that network. People often assume their account has a problem. Try again later, or from a line on another network that is registered to the same account.

Daily limits. Banks cap how much you can send by USSD each day, often lower than app limits unless you complete extra steps. Sterling, for example, starts at ₦20,000 a day by default. Once you hit the cap, further transfers fail until the next day.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my bank USSD code not working?: The most common reasons are dialling from a number that isn't the one registered with your bank, a recent SIM swap the bank hasn't updated, a USSD outage on your mobile network, or hitting your daily USSD limit. If the code fails for everyone on your network at once, it is usually the network, not your account.
Do I need data for USSD banking?: No. USSD runs over the basic mobile network, the same channel as calls and SMS, so it works with mobile data switched off and on phones that have no internet at all. You only need signal.
Can I use a USSD code on any phone?: Yes, any phone that can make a call, including basic feature phones. What matters is the SIM: most bank codes only work from the number linked to your account, so a different phone with your SIM in it works, but your codes on someone else's SIM usually won't, except for emergency block codes some banks allow from any number.
Is USSD banking safe?: Transactions need your USSD PIN, so someone who only knows your code cannot move money. The risk is the phone itself: if it is stolen unlocked, a thief with your PIN can transact. Never share your PIN or an OTP, and if your phone is lost, use your bank's block code or fraud line straight away.
What if I don't remember my USSD PIN?: Most banks let you reset it through the same USSD menu, usually by confirming the last digits of your debit card or your BVN. If that fails, visit a branch or call the customer-care line. Repeated wrong attempts can lock USSD access for a period, so don't keep guessing.