In an effort to further strengthen the banking industry in Nigeria, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in February 2014 introduced the Bank Verification Number (BVN). The BVN is an 11 digit number that serves as a customer’s universal means of identity in all banks across Nigeria.
This is a very important step by the CBN to re-emphasize the cashless policy which Nigerians seem slow to understand. The exercise was introduced to protect the banking interests of Nigerians among other things. Failure to get your BVN may be detrimental except for those who will resort to home savings and adopt a cash-based policy.
How to Check BVN On MTN
To check your Bank Verification Number on your MTN line, make sure the number is linked to your bank account. Note that the service fee of N20 applies each time you use this service. Follow these steps to do so.
- Dial *565*0*
- Your BVN will be displayed with the amount that was charged for the service
How to Check Bank Verification Number On Glo Network
Just like we have in MTN, you must be sure that the GLO number you are using is linked to your bank account and have at least N20.00 in your GLO line before proceeding.
- Dial *565*0*
- Your BVN will be displayed with the amount that was charged for the service
How to Check BVN On Airtel
Be sure that the Airtel number you are using is linked to your bank account and that you have at least N20.00 in your Airtel account balance. If so, dial:
- Dial *565*0#
- Your BVN will be displayed with the amount that was charged for the service
How to Check Bank Verification Number On Etisalat
For you to check your BVN on your Etisalat SIM card, you must have linked your Etisalat line with your bank account. You will be charged a service fee of N20.00. Follow these steps:
- Dial *565*0#
- Your BVN will be displayed with the amount that was charged for the service
How to Check BVN Details Online
To check your Bank Verification Number online, you must have enrolled for the BVN at a bank branch. After undergoing the process of getting a Bank Verification Number, you do not need to keep going to your bank to check your verification number because technology has made things much easier. Also, do not need to memorize the 11 digit number, either. What you need to do is to follow simple step-by-step instructions on your mobile device and you will get your number whenever you need it. The following are ways you can check your BVN online.
You Can Check Your BVN Through Internet Banking
With the improved banking system, banking services are getting easier than before. The use of internet banking and bank mobile applications has reduced the stress of visiting and queuing up at banks. The online method of checking the BVN requires a data connection and an internet-enabled mobile phone, at no extra cost. You must have registered for your bank’s internet banking to be able to use this service. Once you have these, simply follow these steps.
- Log into your bank’s internet banking platform
- Search for the account inquiry option and click on it
- Click on check BVN
- Your BVN will be displayed and you can either write it down or save the page
You Can Check Your Bank Verification Number With Mobile Banking Apps
With mobile banking apps, one can conveniently check and retrieve his or her BVN. To do this, you need to have an internet-enabled phone, and an internet connection.
- Log in to your mobile app
- Go to the option for account inquiry
- Choose BVN check
- Your BVN will be displayed
Other Ways to Check Bank Verification Number
There are other ways of checking the BVN part from using the online/internet method. You can check it by visiting the bank, using a USSD code, etc.
Visitation to Bank Branches
You can retrieve your BVN anytime at your bank branch. You just need to visit the bank you have an account with, go to the customer care section, and tell them your mission. Provide the needed details and your Bank Verification Number will be given to you.
Using USSD Codes
You can check your Bank Verification Number through the USSD code provided for it by network providers and bank USSD codes.
How to Check BVN Using Bank USSD Codes
For you to check your BVN using your bank’s USSD code, you must have signed up for USSD banking. With the USSD code, you don’t need an internet connection. All you need is a mobile phone and the phone number that is linked to your bank account. Again, you can check it on any of your bank accounts once they are linked to your BVN. Some of the banks you can use this code for are Sterling Bank, Access bank, First bank, etc. Follow these steps to check your BVN with USSD banking
- Dial the bank’s USSD code. Example *901# for Access bank, *894# for First Bank, and so on.
- Go to Enquiry Services
- Select BVN Enquiry
- Enter your USSD banking PIN
- Your 11 digit BVN will be displayed
How to Check Bank Verification Number Using Bank Shortcodes
The banking services have become easier by the day. There are shortcodes one can dial with their mobile phones to retrieve their Bank Verification Number. These shortcodes are a combination of numbers which when dialed, will lead you to the page where you will provide your USSD banking PIN. It is easier than using the USSD codes alone. For you to use the shortcodes, you must use the phone number that is linked to your bank account. Below is a list of shortcodes for the listed banks. GTBank and some other banks have this kind of service.
- *737*6*1# for GTBank and follow the prompt. The cost for this transaction is N10
Uses and Importance of Bank Verification Number
- The BVN reduces the tendency of fraudulent practices. It has been ascertained that PINs and passwords are easily hacked and manipulated; so the major objective of the BVN is to uniquely verify and protect the identity of each bank customer, reduce fraud and strengthen the Nigerian banking system.
- The Bank Verification Number also protects the banks. The tendency for loan defaulters, for instance, to move from one bank to the other in order to extend their credits knowing that the bank does not know their history with other banks is curtailed as banks would be able to track transactions across all banks in Nigeria with more ease.
- It makes the banking process easier for the elderly or semi-illiterate who “fight” with tellers over irregularities in their signatures. Their fingerprints and pictures would serve the same purpose as signatures. Retrieval is very easy in case a customer forgets or misplaces his/her BVN. All he needs to do to get it back is to report to his/her bank where the enrollment was done for retrieval. Also, you can check it online through a banking app or with a USSD code.
Can I Retrieve My BVN With or Without My Phone Number?
Yes, one can retrieve his or her BVN without his mobile phone number only with the bank mobile app. It is only with the mobile app and internet banking that you can view your BVN without using your mobile number. All you need to do is to log into your mobile app, select the option for account inquiry, select BVN check and it will be displayed.
What is BVN?
The Bank Verification Number (BVN) is a biometric identification number system unique to an individual bearing it. It was introduced to Nigeria by the Central Bank of Nigeria to curb illegal transactions in the country. The BVN project was launched in February 2015 and is mandatory for all Nigerian bank customers, whether existing or intending. It is so important that even bank customers who are abroad are advised to return to the country and enroll with their banks to continue carrying out transactions without any hitch. The BVN project is a strategy that will ensure that Nigeria becomes one of the top 20 largest economies in the world in the nearest future, which is part of the financial inclusion policy of the Financial Sector Strategy (FSS) program.
The BVN gives the customer a unique identity across all the banks in the country which can be used for easy identification and verification. The BVN does not change. It remains the same for life but it expires after 10 years. The customer should go back to his/her bank to re-enroll after every 10 years. This means that the next enrollment exercise will commence in 2025.
The BVN registration carried out in one bank covers all accounts the individual might have in all other banks. Once a customer is enrolled at one bank and a BVN is generated, the customer only has to take the BVN to the other banks where he/she has accounts to link the accounts. In the case of a corporate account, the persons who are signatories to the account will enroll individually and their individual BVNs would then be linked to the corporate account by the bank. There is no “corporate enrollment” for corporate accounts.
How to Get a BVN
To enroll for a BVN, the enrollment process is very simple. All the customer has to do is to visit the bank where he has an account or intends to open one. You will fill and submit the BVN enrollment form which will be given to you at the bank. Once that is done, your fingerprints and facial features will be captured through biometric technology, and your BVN will be generated within 24 hours and sent to you via SMS or e-mail.
It is worthy of note that the BVN cannot be gotten online. The best way of getting it is through direct contact with your bank as stated above. Some criminal elements may try to suggest seemingly easier enrollment options online and threaten that your account would be closed if you do not provide them with the details. Do not give in to their schemes! if you do, they will control the access to your bank accounts.
After your enrollment, a BVN identification card with a computer chip bearing your embedded personal information will be given to you for collection at your designated bank branch.