The Nigerian financial system has been marred over the years with a very high prevalence of fraudulent activities mostly perpetrated by online scammers and hackers. This has made it imperative for every Access Bank account holder to commit to memory his bank details, especially the Access bank account number in case of any emergencies. Protecting the identity of your account is one of the reasons why account numbers and BVN are given, thus, you must do your best to keep these details safe and also provide them at such notice in case of any emergency.
The Importance Of Knowing Your Access Bank Account Number
Knowing your account number helps to make transactions easier and most importantly, you can block transactions on your account in case of any fraud alert. Experience has proven that many unsuspecting Access Bank customers have fallen victim to fraudsters, simply because they do not have their bank account numbers handy to block transactions on their account whenever sensitive information is compromised.
This is just one out of many uncertain sceneries that could play out to underscore the importance of knowing how to check your Access Bank account number or having it offhand at any given time.
How Do I Find My Access Bank Account Number?
Most often it is commonplace to see bank account holders getting stuck in emergencies that would require them to provide their account numbers urgently, in such instances, the knowledge of how one can access his bank account immediately becomes vital.
For Access bank customers, there are quite a number of ways available for them to get their account numbers anytime it becomes necessary. Let’s explore some of the possible ways of checking your Access Bank account number.
Via USSD Code
One of the safest and easiest ways of checking your Access Bank account number is through dialing a USSD code. The official Access Bank USSD code for checking your account number is *901#. The USSD code method is quite easy to use, and it works on both smartphones and other ordinary mobile phones. What’s more, it requires no internet, and all you need is the registered phone number you used in opening the account.
Here are the steps to follow:
Step 1
Dial *901# on your mobile phone, it will display the following options:
- Check balance
- Transfer
- Airtime
- Other services
- Diamond Xtra
Step 2
Select option 4 (which is other services), it will then display:
- Payday loan
- Bill payment
- Data
- Inquiry services
- Reset pin
- Cardless withdrawal
- Referral scheme
- Opt-out
Step 3
Select the 4th option (which is inquiry services) this will show:
- Mini statement
- BVN inquiry
- Account number inquiry
Step 4
Select option 3 (which is Account number inquiry)
Under this, you will be instructed thus: To enroll, enter the last (6)six digits of your ATM card
Step 5
At this stage, you will be required to input the last six digits of your ATM card then press send. After completing this process successfully, your account number will be displayed on the screen of your phone.
Through Mobile App Or Internet Banking
To use this method, you need to have a smartphone. Then you ought to download and register the Access Bank mobile application from your phone store.
Using this platform to retrieve your account number is quite easy as the number is always displayed on the dashboard of your mobile app, which can enable you to access it anytime you open the mobile app.
Through The ATM
Another way of checking your Access Bank account number is through the Automated Teller Machine (ATM). You can always visit any ATM point (not necessarily that of Access Bank) to achieve this. While at the ATM, slot in your card and input your 4 digit-secret-pin and then follow the prompts.
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Through Social Media
Social media is another means to get your bank account number. The most common social media platforms used in this regard are Facebook and Twitter, where you can visit the official page of Access Bank and make a request for your account number.
Nonetheless, to do this, you may be required to provide the following details with regards to your account:
- Your full name (which you used to open the account)
- Your phone number (which you used to open the account)
- Next of kin
- Date of birth
- Your domicile bank branch
- Your address
Note that you would be asked to provide some of the afore-listed details before your bank account can be sent to you through social media.
The BVN Code Is As Important As The Access Bank Account Number
In the Nigerian banking sector today, the biometric identification system, BVN (Bank Verification Number), has become one of the most important and sensitive information every account holder is expected to keep undisclosed at all costs. It is important to have this number so as to protect one’s accounts from being compromised by fraudsters, who can use the BVN of an account to wipe off a customer’s hard-earned savings.
To address some fraud-related issues and improve the transactional security within the Nigerian banking sector, in February 2014, the Apex Bank of Nigeria, CBN, in partnership with the commercial banks, saw the urgent need to initiate the biometric identification system, BVN. It was aimed at reducing fraudulent activities in the country, checking corrupt practices, and promoting transparency in the public and private sectors.
Consequently, owing to the alarmingly high rate of incidents of compromise on the conservative security systems (password and PIN) in the Nigerian banking sector, it has led to high demand for strengthening greater security for access to sensitive or personal information of bank account holders in the Banking System. The Access Bank BVN code is meant to address these issues, as well as to enhance security with payment systems, either online or offline.
What Transactions Can Be Done With The BVN?
Launched into the banking system for seven years now, the BVN has also become as necessary as one’s Access Bank account number and it is mandatory for every account holder to link all of his/her accounts with his unique BVN number, without which an account cannot be functional. For this reason, almost every transaction done in the bank requires BVN. Therefore, knowing your BVN is not negotiable as far as banking transactions are concerned in Nigeria.
- The BVN is used to open a new account number.
- The BVN is used for easy identification, and verification at the point of banking operations.
- The BVN is an account holder’s financial ID card and can be leveraged to access vital personal information of account holders that can aid or expose fraudsters in their illicit activities.
Note: Your Access Bank BVN alone cannot give you access to funds in your account but it can help fraudsters to hack your account.
How Do I Check My BVN On Access Bank Online?
Due to the imperativeness of the BVN, and the fact that many customers don’t always remember their BVN numbers, there have been several ways put in place to help customers access their BVN anytime they need it, both online and offline.
USSD Code
There is a universal USSD code *565*0# for retrieving your BVN, irrespective of your bank. To achieve this, this is what you need to do:
- Get the phone number linked to your access bank account
- Dial the USSD short code *565*0# and press send
- Follow the prompts correctly after which your BVN number will appear on your screen
Also, Access Bank customers can take advantage of the bank’s *901# banking system code and follow the instructions on BVN retrieval to access their BVN numbers.
Through Text Message
You can also get your BVN number through SMS if you follow the basic steps discussed above. All you need is the phone number used in opening your bank account, with which you can simply dial *565*0#. After this, an SMS containing your BVN will be instantly sent to your phone.
Mobile App
For smartphone users, you can also retrieve your BVN online using the Access Bank Mobile App, when you log in to your dashboard and follow the prompts. If this article has been of much relevance to you, why not check out other similar informative articles on this platform for your reading pleasure and enrich your knowledge.
