How to check your BVN on any phone (*565*0#)
Dial *565*0# from the phone number linked to your bank account to see your 11-digit BVN. Works on MTN, Airtel, Glo and T2, plus bank codes if the NIBSS code fails.
Your Bank Verification Number (BVN) is an 11-digit number that links all your bank accounts to your identity. Banks ask for it when you open an account, apply for a loan or update your details. If you've forgotten it, you can check it in seconds by USSD, on any network.
Check your BVN with *565*0#
- Use the phone with the number you gave your bank when your BVN was created.
- Dial *565*0#.
- You will then be prompted to enter your full date of birth in DDMMYYYY format (for example, 5 March 1990 is 05031990).
- Your BVN is shown on screen.
The code is run by NIBSS (Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System), which manages BVNs for all banks, so it works no matter which bank you use.
How much does it cost?
A ₦20 fee is deducted from your airtime for each check. Recharge first if your balance is low.
If it doesn't show your BVN
- Wrong number: the code only works from the number linked to your BVN. Try any other line you've used with your bank.
- Number linked to more than one BVN: if your phone number appears on more than one BVN record (for example, a family member used your number), the code can't tell which one is yours and won't show a result. Ask your bank to check.
- Number changed: if you no longer have the old line, visit your bank with a valid ID. They can retrieve your BVN and update your phone number.
Check your BVN with your bank's code
Many banks can show your BVN through their own USSD menu, from your registered phone:
GTBank customers can dial *737*6*1#, which shows your balance, account number and BVN together. Other banks' codes are on their pages in the directory.
Check that a BVN is valid
If someone gives you a BVN, for example an employer verifying a staff member, you can confirm it's real and see the name registered to it:
This also costs ₦20.
Keep your BVN safe
Your BVN on its own can't be used to take money from your account, but fraudsters use it to make fake calls sound real ("we can see your BVN, so we're from your bank"). Your bank will never call or text you to ask for your BVN, PIN or one-time password. If someone does, hang up and call your bank on the number on its official website.