How do I get my bank verification number?

How do I get my bank verification number – Following security concern, the Central Bank of Nigeria in collaboration with the Banker’s committee, NIBBS, launched the BVN project in February 14, 2014.

The aim behind this project was to capture biometrics of all bank customers where they are issued unique identity that’s verifiable across the Nigerian banking industry. 

What’s BVN?  

The acronym “BVN” stand for “Bank Verification Number,” a unique number assigned to every customers’ account as a means through which such customer can be identified as well as follow a trail of their transactions with other banks.

What you need to know about BVN

The BVN is the registration of customers in the financial system using biometric technology, this has to do with recording a customers’ unique physical traits like finger prints and the facial feature.

Thereafter, the record can be used to correctly identify the person, once biometrics of a customer has been duly captured, such customer is issued a “Bank Verification Number (BVN).”

Objectives of the BVN

BVN was introduced with a sole initiative to protect bank customers, reduce system fraud, as well as strengthen the Nigeria’s financial system, however, fraud is reduced given that no two people have the same biometric information. 

Subsequently, the bank will have to check the features of a person doing a transaction against the record the bank has captured earlier, this makes it easy to identify a true owner of an account.

Note: A BVN given to a customer by one bank can be used with several other banks where such customer operates an account.

 How do I get my Bank Verification Number?

You probably want to carry out a transaction like may be access loan with online app, or need your BVN for any reason but can’t find it, you can get your BVN using any of the below methods

1. Using the *565*0#

From your registered phone number on BVN, dial *565*0# and hit the send button, your BVN will be displaced on your screen.

Note: You will need to have at least N20 on your phone to access this service, you can access this service on MTN, Airtel, Glo and 9mobile networks respectively.

2. Using Mobile Apps

You can find your BVN from most mobile apps, like the GTBank, Polaris mobile, etc.

Once you logged on to your mobile app, check either of the top two corners for your BVN.

GTBank customers can get their BVN via the 737 USSD code by dialing *737*6*1# on their registered phone number.

Note: Any phone you wish to access your BVN on either by using the 565 or otherwise, such phone number must be the one through which you enrolled for BVN initially.

3. At the bank branch

You can get your BVN by walking into any bank where you have an account. Kindly walk straight to the customer service and ask to get your BVN.

You will be required to provide your account number as well as sign your specimen signature correctly on a sheet of paper.

Having completed this service, the officer will log in to your account and retrieve your BVN.

How to check my BVN online?

Besides the USSD code pattern, any other method through which you check your BVN using the internet or mobile data is online.

That said, if you check via the bank mobile app or at the bank branch, that’s how to check your BVN online.

How to check my BVN on my phone?

For the record, you can check your BVN on MTN, Glo, Airtel and on 9mobile using your phone.

From your registered phone number on BVN, dial *565*0# and hit the send button, your BVN will be displaced on your screen.

Note: You will need to have at least N20 on your phone to access this service

How to get BVN without going to bank?

You can check your BVN without going to the bank by using any of the two methods

• The USSD code *565*0#, the *737*6*1# for GTBank customers and
• The Mobile app method as explained above.

How to check BVN on Airtel?

You can check your BVN on Airtel by dialing *565*0# from your BVN registered mobile number, your 11-digit BVN will be displayed on your screen, this attracts a N20 fee.

How to check BVN without airtime?

Given the listed methods on how do I get my Bank Verification Number, namely;

• The USSD code
• Mobile App and
• Bank branch

The bank branch is the only method that does not require airtime or mobile data on your part, however, the bank uses internet data to operate its work station.

How do I enroll for BVN?

If you do not have a BVN, you will need to get one for yourself, need not tell you that you cannot access your bank account at this time without having a BVN.

To enroll for a BVN, kindly visit any Nigerian bank and ask to enroll for a BVN.

Requirements

You will need to visit the bank with a valid ID card in any of this category; National ID, Voters card, Driver’s license or International passport.

You will be required to complete a BVN enrollment form, complete the form paying full attention to details.

Thereafter hand in the form and other documents are required to the service executive who in turn inputs your details on the NIBBS portal as well as captures your details and biometrics; finger prints and facial features.

There after a ticket ID is generated and hand over to you, your BVN will be ready within 24 hours.

You will receive an SMS containing your BVN within or after 24 hours, where you do not receive and SMS to that effect kindly revert to the bank for your 11-digit BVN.

How to change my BVN name online?

There are situations where you may want to change or correct your BVN name, this may arise in any of the following

• Where you wish to be identified with a name other than your initial name
• By virtue of marriage/strictly for women
• Your name was wrongly captured/misspelled at the point of enrollment, etc., there are factors that may associated with it according to individual lifestyle and choice.
• There’s also a scenario where you are looking to correct your date of birth.

However, we need to concentrate on how to change your name or correct your details, date of birth etc.

To do any of these, kindly visit the bank and enquire to change your name, correct it or your date of birth as it applies.

The customer service officer will tell you a list of requirements according to their standard, however, on a blanket requirement for banks, you will be required to get a court affidavit to support your name correction or date of birth.

The court and the affidavit

Kindly visit a court of competent jurisdiction and obtain an affidavit as suits your correction requirement. Note: where you are looking to change or correct your name the affidavit must bear the now preferred name in full which as well should be contained in your preferred ID card.

Where it’s your date of birth, the affidavit should contain your preferred date of birth.

The affidavit and notary public

Having got the affidavit, you will need to get it published on a national daily, especially for change/correction of name.

Back to the bank

Buy a copy of the national daily and submit alongside with the affidavit to the bank, as well as your preferred valid ID card with the same name on the affidavit for name change or correction.

At the bank, you will be required to complete a BVN customer information update form, thereafter BVN name will be corrected.

Note: For this correction, you will have to visit the bank where your BVN enrollment was done.

Note: Some banks may not require the notary public, seek advice from the service executive before you proceed.

Your BVN name cannot be changed online at this time, for security reason and the sensitivity of BVN, such correction is not enabled online.

How long does it take to change BVN name?

Having completed the process of acquiring the requisite document as shown above: affidavit, notary public, then, back to the bank.

All things being equal your BVN correction should happen within 24 hours after it has been keyed.

Can I change my BVN name twice?

For now, there’s a window to correct or change your BVN details once, though it could vary as much as the bank permits, so talk to the customer service in your bank of enrollment. However, the correction allowed must not erase the complete name.

Other content on BVN:

How to link BVN to Access bank account in simple steps

How to link BVN to First bank account

How to link BVN to Zenith bank account in simple steps

How to link BVN to Fidelity bank account (step by step guide)

Conclusion

There you have it on how to get your Bank Verification Number, BVN enrollment, how to change or correct your details; name, date of birth, etc.

Are there further questions and inquiries you’d wish addressed on this topic, kindly talk to me at the comment section.