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The short answer
Access Bank's FAQ (October 2026) names five things that reduce or block PayDay Loan eligibility: outstanding loans with Access or another bank, a phone number not linked to your BVN, no salary credited in the previous month, other digital loans that use up your eligible amount, and an existing repayment larger than your eligible amount. Most can be fixed by clearing a loan, updating your BVN phone number or waiting for a fresh salary credit.
Why a PayDay Loan request fails
A decline or a "not eligible" message on *901*11# or QuickBucks is the outcome of the bank's checks against its risk acceptance criteria. Access Bank does not publish its whole scoring model, but its PayDay Loan FAQ (accessed October 2026) does list the conditions that reduce or block eligibility. Knowing which one applies to you saves you from repeatedly dialling the code and getting the same answer.
| Reason in the FAQ | What it usually looks like | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| Outstanding loans with Access or other banks | You took a loan elsewhere and it shows on your credit record | Repay or reduce it, then wait for the record to update |
| Phone number not linked to your BVN | You dial from a second SIM or a new line | Dial from the BVN number, or update the number on your BVN |
| No salary evidence in the previous month | Salary was late, split or paid to another bank | Wait for this month's salary credit to land |
| Other digital loans exceed your eligible amount | Several loan-app loans running at once | Clear some of them first |
| An existing loan's monthly repayment exceeds your eligible amount | A large instalment loan already takes most of your pay | Borrow less or wait until the instalment falls |
The five reasons in more detail
1. Other loans on your record
Banks and licensed lenders report to credit bureaus, so a loan from another bank or a loan app can reduce what Access offers you even if you have never borrowed from Access. If you are not sure what is on your record, request your report: Credit scores in Nigeria: how the credit bureaus work explains how.
2. The wrong phone number
The check expects the request to come from the phone number registered on your BVN. Many people now use a different SIM day to day. Updating the number on a BVN is done through your bank, and a branch can tell you what identification it needs.
3. No salary last month
The FAQ refers to evidence of salary in the previous month. If your employer paid late, paid in two parts, or you changed jobs, the system may not see a qualifying credit. Remita-processed salaries also count, the FAQ says, which helps many public-sector workers.
4 and 5. Your eligible amount is already used
The maximum is 75% of monthly salary, minus active loans with the bank, capped at ₦2,000,000 (FAQ, October 2026). If other repayments already take up that room, the offer can drop to zero.
Worked example: why the offer can be nil
Example only. Chioma earns ₦240,000 a month. Her ceiling is 75% of ₦240,000, which is ₦180,000. She already repays ₦190,000 a month on an instalment loan from another bank. Her existing repayment is larger than her eligible amount, which is one of the FAQ's listed reasons, so no PayDay Loan is offered. If the instalment were ₦100,000 instead, the bank's own assessment would decide whether any of the remaining room is offered; the published 75% is a ceiling, not a promise.
What to check first
- Dial from the line linked to your BVN.
- Confirm last month's salary arrived as one clear credit in your account, or through Remita.
- List every loan you are repaying, including loan apps, and add up the monthly repayments.
- Check your credit report for loans you have repaid but which still show as open.
- If everything looks right, call Access Bank on the contact numbers in its FAQ and ask which criterion is failing.
If you still cannot get it
A decline is a reason to pause, not to borrow somewhere more expensive. Compare the full cost of any alternative using a worked example, and check that any loan app is on the FCCPC's register first: How to check a loan app is registered with the FCCPC. The steps for requesting the loan itself are in How to get an Access PayDay Loan via *901# and the app.
It also helps to fix the record itself. If a loan you repaid still shows as open on a credit report, ask the lender for a letter of liquidation and send it to the bureau with a request to update the entry. Bureaus have a dispute process for this. Once the record is corrected and a fresh salary has landed, a new request is assessed on the updated picture, which is more useful than trying the code daily.
Where Pryme fits
For spending such as food shopping, medicines or transport, Loans on Spaces from Solid Allianze MFB can be used only with Spaces merchants. A limit may be offered based on how your Pryme account is run; you see the amount, cost and repayment date and decide whether to accept.
Questions people ask
Why does Access Bank say I am not eligible for PayDay Loan?
The FAQ lists other outstanding loans, a phone number not linked to your BVN, no salary in the previous month, other digital loans using up your limit, or an existing repayment above your eligible amount.
How long should I wait before trying Access PayDay Loan again?
Access Bank does not publish a waiting period. Fix the reason first, for example wait for this month's salary to land or clear another loan, then try again.
Can I get Access PayDay Loan if I have a loan with another bank?
It can reduce or block your eligibility, according to the FAQ. The bank assesses your total existing repayments.
Does Access PayDay Loan work with a different SIM?
Use the phone number linked to your BVN. Requests from other numbers can be blocked.
Sources
- Access Bank: PayDay Loan frequently asked questions · accessed Oct 2026
- Access Bank: PayDay loan product page · accessed Oct 2026
- FCCPC: Approvals of digital money lenders · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.