USSD banking remains one of the easiest ways to transfer money in Nigeria, especially when mobile data is unavailable or a banking app is not working.
- Is There a General USSD Code for All Nigerian Banks?
- Nigerian Bank USSD Codes
- Other Digital Banks and Fintech Platforms
- What Is the Code for Transferring to Another Bank?
- Can I Transfer Money From One Bank to Another Using USSD?
- Do I Need the Recipient’s USSD Code?
- What If My Bank’s USSD Code Is Not Working?
- Important USSD Banking Safety Tips
- Complete Quick Reference
By dialing a short code on a mobile phone, customers can transfer money, check account balances, buy airtime, pay bills and perform other banking transactions without using the internet.
However, there is no single USSD code that works as the transfer code for every Nigerian bank. Each bank and participating financial institution has its own USSD service.
Is There a General USSD Code for All Nigerian Banks?
No. There is currently no universal bank-transfer code that allows customers of every Nigerian bank to initiate transfers from one common USSD code.
Instead, you use the USSD code belonging to the institution where your account is held.
For example, a GTBank customer uses “*737#”, while a Zenith Bank customer uses “*966#”. A customer can then use that bank’s USSD service to transfer money to an account held with another bank.
The recipient’s bank does not determine the USSD code you dial. Your own bank does.
Nigerian Bank USSD Codes
Below are USSD codes for major Nigerian banks and financial institutions.
Bank/Financial Institution USSD Code
Access Bank “*901#”
Citibank Nigeria No consumer USSD transfer service confirmed
Ecobank Nigeria “*326#”
FCMB “*329#”
Fidelity Bank “*770#”
First Bank “*894#”
First City Monument Bank (FCMB) “*329#”
GTBank (GTCO) “*737#”
Keystone Bank “*7111#”
Polaris Bank “*833#”
Stanbic IBTC “*909#”
Sterling Bank “*822#”
Union Bank “*826#”
United Bank for Africa (UBA) “*919#”
Unity Bank “*7799#”
Wema Bank “*945#”
Zenith Bank “*966#”
Jaiz Bank “*389*301#”
Lotus Bank “*5045#”
TAJBank “*898#”
Parallex Bank “*5465#”
Signature Bank “*900#”
SunTrust Bank “*5230#”
USSD availability can change, so customers should confirm the code with their bank before using it for a transaction.
OPay USSD Code
OPay provides USSD banking for customers who want to perform transactions without internet access.
OPay USSD code: “*955#”
Customers can dial “*955#” from the phone number linked to their OPay account and follow the menu to access available services, including transfers and other transactions. Current 2026 references continue to identify “*955#” as OPay’s main USSD code.
For security, customers should use the main “*955#” menu rather than relying on unofficial shortcut codes that may change.
PalmPay USSD Code
PalmPay USSD code: “*861#”
PalmPay customers can use the service for supported transactions without an internet connection.
Because USSD menus and transaction shortcuts can change, PalmPay users should dial the main “*861#” code and follow the options displayed on the screen.
Moniepoint USSD Code
Moniepoint USSD code: “*5573#”
Moniepoint officially provides “*5573#” for customers who want to perform banking transactions without internet access. Its USSD service supports transfers, airtime and data purchases, balance checks, PIN management and account-security functions.
Moniepoint also provides a specific option for transfers to other banks through its USSD service.
One important point is that existing Moniepoint customers may need to activate USSD banking through the Moniepoint app or web platform before the service works.
Other Digital Banks and Fintech Platforms
USSD services are not limited to traditional commercial banks. Several Nigerian fintechs, payment service banks and microfinance institutions also provide USSD services.
Institution USSD Code
OPay “*955#”
PalmPay “*861#”
Moniepoint “*5573#”
Carbon “*1303#”
FairMoney “*5995#”
VFD Microfinance Bank “*5040#”
Not every digital bank provides USSD. For example, Kuda is primarily app-based and should not be assumed to have a functioning USSD transfer service simply because other digital banks do.
What Is the Code for Transferring to Another Bank?
There is an important distinction between the USSD code of a bank and the transfer code within that bank’s USSD menu.
For example:
– GTBank customer → dial “*737#”
– Access Bank customer → dial “*901#”
– FirstBank customer → dial “*894#”
– UBA customer → dial “*919#”
– Zenith Bank customer → dial “*966#”
– OPay customer → dial “*955#”
– PalmPay customer → dial “*861#”
– Moniepoint customer → dial “*5573#”
After opening the relevant USSD service, select the transfer option and follow the instructions.
Can I Transfer Money From One Bank to Another Using USSD?
Yes.
For example, if you have a FirstBank account and want to send money to someone with an Access Bank account, you do not need to use Access Bank’s USSD code.
You use FirstBank’s USSD service.
The general process is:
1. Dial your bank’s USSD code.
2. Select Transfer.
3. Choose Other Bank or Other Banks, where applicable.
4. Select the recipient’s bank.
5. Enter the recipient’s account number.
6. Enter the amount.
7. Confirm the beneficiary’s name.
8. Enter your transaction PIN.
9. Wait for the transaction confirmation.
The exact steps vary from one financial institution to another.
Do I Need the Recipient’s USSD Code?
No.
This is one of the most common misunderstandings about USSD transfers.
If you are sending money from your Access Bank account to a GTBank account, you use Access Bank’s USSD code, not GTBank’s.
The recipient’s bank is selected during the transfer process.
For example:
Sender: Access Bank
Recipient: GTBank
Code to dial: “*901#”
The same principle applies when transferring from a traditional bank to OPay, PalmPay, Moniepoint or another participating financial institution.
Is “*99#” a Universal Nigerian Bank Transfer Code?
Customers should be careful with claims that “*99#” is a universal code that replaces every Nigerian bank’s USSD service.
Banks and financial institutions operate their own USSD channels. For example, Moniepoint’s official USSD service is “*5573#”, while OPay’s is “*955#”.
Therefore, if your bank has given you a specific USSD code, use the official code supplied by that institution.
What If My Bank’s USSD Code Is Not Working?
A USSD transaction can fail for several reasons.
Common causes include:
– Poor mobile network coverage
– The phone number is not linked to the bank account
– USSD service interruption
– Incorrect PIN
– Account restrictions
– Transaction limits
– Temporary bank or telecom network problems
If a transaction fails after money has been deducted, do not immediately repeat the transaction. First check your account balance and transaction history and contact the financial institution if necessary.
Important USSD Banking Safety Tips
USSD banking is convenient, but customers should protect their banking information.
Never give another person your:
– USSD PIN
– ATM PIN
– One-Time Password (OTP)
– Banking app password
– Card details
Always check the beneficiary’s name and amount before confirming a transfer.
You should also avoid using USSD codes obtained from random social-media posts or unofficial websites when your bank’s official website or customer service can provide the correct code.
Complete Quick Reference
For readers who only need the codes, here is a quick reference:
Institution USSD
Access Bank “*901#”
Ecobank “*326#”
FCMB “*329#”
Fidelity Bank “*770#”
FirstBank “*894#”
GTCO/GTBank “*737#”
Keystone Bank “*7111#”
Polaris Bank “*833#”
Stanbic IBTC “*909#”
Sterling Bank “*822#”
Union Bank “*826#”
UBA “*919#”
Unity Bank “*7799#”
Wema Bank “*945#”
Zenith Bank “*966#”
Jaiz Bank “*389*301#”
Lotus Bank “*5045#”
TAJBank “*898#”
Parallex Bank “*5465#”
Signature Bank “*900#”
SunTrust Bank “*5230#”
OPay “*955#”
PalmPay “*861#”
Moniepoint “*5573#”
Carbon “*1303#”
FairMoney “*5995#”
VFD MFB “*5040#”
There is no single USSD transfer code for all Nigerian banks.
Instead, each bank, digital bank or financial platform has its own USSD code. Customers should dial the code belonging to the institution where they hold their account and use its transfer menu to send money to another bank.
For popular fintech platforms, OPay uses “*955#”, PalmPay uses “*861#”, while Moniepoint uses “*5573#”. Moniepoint’s official documentation confirms that its USSD service can be used for transfers to other banks.
Because USSD codes can change, readers should always verify a code with the financial institution before carrying out an important transaction.
