The BVN stands for Bank Verification Number. It is an 11-digit code used to uniquely identify bank account owners in Nigeria for know-your-customer (KYC) purposes.
The BVN is unique for each customer and gives access to information about you that you used to set up your account, so it is advised you keep it confidential.
The difference between the Bank Verification Number (BVN) and the National Identification Number (NIN) is that BVN is issued for banking purposes while NIN is issued to all citizens for identification purposes.
How Can You Get Your Bank Verification Number?
To get your BVN, you need to own a bank account in Nigeria. You only need one bank verification number to manage all your bank accounts, including accessing Fintech services and running corporate accounts.
On average it doesn\’t take more than a day to get them and all you need to do is walk into any bank branch where you have an account. You can also set up a new account and get the BVN there.
How To Get Your BVN On Your Phone
There are several ways to get your Bank Verification Number on your phone and we\’ll see a few below;
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Bank Mobile Apps
You can simply log into your bank app and look for the BVN section. I could have used my own mobile banking app for a sample but there are over 20 banks in Nigeria with their own different setups.
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Bank USSD Codes
The bank USSD codes can be used to access the services too if you link your account to your phone number. On GTB for instance, simply dial *737*6*1# on your registered phone number.
You can find out the USSD codes for other Nigerian banks by visiting this page. There could be service charges.
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USSD Code
If you linked your BVN to your phone number, you can use the USSD code. On MTN, Glo, Airtel and 9mobile you can dial *565*0# from the number you used for the registration.
It costs ₦10 only.
If you use a number that\’s not linked to your BVN, it will bring out an error message. It is however compulsory now and to use a phone number in Nigeria, the BVN must be linked.
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