AI agents for business finance: what they can and can't do
What AI agents can do in bookkeeping, close, collections and compliance today, where a person must stay in charge, and how to judge a product.
The short answer
Most Nigerian banks sell Airtel data inside their mobile apps and on their USSD codes; for example, GTBank lists *737*4#, FirstBank *894*2# and Keystone *7111*5#. The bank debits your account and Airtel credits the bundle to the number you enter; if the bundle does not arrive, the complaint goes to your bank first, because the bank holds the transaction record.
Buying data through your bank saves a trip for a recharge card and works when your airtime is empty. It also brings a different set of rules: bank limits, USSD session charges and a refund process that runs through the bank rather than through Airtel. This guide covers the main routes, using what each bank's own page says.
Bank USSD codes for data
These codes are taken from the banks' own USSD pages, checked in October 2026. Dial from the phone number registered to your bank account.
| Bank | Data code | What the bank's page says |
|---|---|---|
| GTBank | *737*4# | Data purchase through 737; airtime and data recharge limit of ₦10,000 a day across networks, Airtel included |
| FirstBank | *894*2# (own line) or *894*2*PhoneNumber# (another line) | Data under Quick Banking; no limits or charges stated on the page |
| Keystone Bank | *7111*5# | Data through *7111#; airtime limit of ₦10,000 a day; no fees stated |
Other banks have equivalent menus, usually under 'Airtime/Data' or 'Recharge'. Use the code printed on your bank's own website or in its app, not one from a social media post; fake codes are a known route to account fraud, as our guide to USSD banking fraud explains.
Steps that apply to most banks
- Dial the bank's data code, or open the app and go to Airtime and Data.
- Choose Airtel as the network.
- Enter the phone number to receive the bundle. Check every digit: a bundle sent to the wrong Airtel number cannot normally be pulled back.
- Pick the bundle from the list the bank shows. The list and prices come from Airtel's current catalogue.
- Authorise with your USSD PIN or app PIN.
- Confirm the bundle with *323# on the receiving line.
What it costs: bundle price and session charge
The bundle itself costs what Airtel charges for it; the bank passes that price through. Some banks have advertised small discounts or cashback, which vary and should be checked in the app.
USSD sessions are a separate charge. TechCabal reported in June 2025 that, under a model proposed by the NCC, a USSD session would cost ₦6.98 for up to 120 seconds and be deducted from the customer's airtime by the network, replacing a flat fee collected by banks. Details were still being negotiated at the time of that report. In practice, check whether your airtime drops after a banking session and look at your bank statement for any USSD charge line.
Worked example (illustrative)
- You buy an Airtel bundle priced at ₦1,500 in the bank's menu.
- Your account is debited ₦1,500.
- If a ₦6.98 USSD session charge applies and the session finishes within 120 seconds, your airtime falls by ₦6.98.
- Total cost of the purchase: ₦1,506.98. Through the bank's app instead, there is no USSD session at all.
When the debit happens but no data arrives
This is the most common problem. Do these in order:
- Wait a few minutes and check *323#. Some credits are delayed when Airtel's systems are busy.
- Check that the number you entered was correct. If it was wrong, the bundle went to that number.
- Find the transaction in your bank app or statement and note the reference, date, time and amount.
- Contact your bank through its official channels and ask for the transaction to be confirmed with Airtel or reversed. Keep the complaint reference.
- If the bank says the bundle was delivered but the line shows nothing, call Airtel on 300 with the bank reference and the time of purchase.
If neither resolves it, there are two regulators. Bank-side failures go to your bank's complaints desk and then the CBN, as explained in how to complain about a bank or fintech. Network-side failures go to Airtel and then to the NCC, which lists its 622 toll-free contact centre for complaints not satisfactorily resolved by the network.
App or USSD: which to use
Both routes buy the same Airtel bundle, but they behave differently. A bank app works over the internet, so it needs some data or Wi-Fi to begin with; it shows the full list of bundles, keeps a searchable history and usually lets you save beneficiaries, which cuts typing errors. USSD works with no data at all and on any handset, which is why it is the fallback when your bundle has already run out. The trade-offs are the session charge, menus that time out if you are slow, and a smaller list of bundles on screen.
A practical rule: use USSD when the line has no data and you need a bundle now; use the app for planned monthly purchases and for buying for family members, where the saved number and receipt are worth having. Whichever you use, never share your USSD or app PIN with anyone offering to 'help' you buy data, and do not dial codes sent to you by strangers.
What to check first
- Right number?
- Read the confirmation screen before you enter your PIN.
- Daily limit?
- Several banks cap airtime and data at ₦10,000 a day; a larger purchase may be refused.
- Bundle type?
- Bank menus sometimes group plans differently from Airtel's *312#. Check the validity before buying.
- Auto-renewal?
- Bundles bought through a bank are still Airtel bundles; see cancelling Airtel auto-renewal if one keeps renewing.
For MTN lines, the same routes are covered in buying MTN data from a bank app.
Where Pryme fits
Pryme lets you buy Airtel data and airtime in the app from your Naira balance, without a USSD session. Money that arrived in pounds, dollars or euros stays in that currency until you choose to Swap it, with the rate shown first. See airtime and data on Pryme.
Questions people ask
What is the GTBank code to buy Airtel data?
GTBank's 737 page lists *737*4# for data purchase, with a daily airtime and data limit of ₦10,000.
How do I buy Airtel data with FirstBank USSD?
Dial *894*2# for your own line or *894*2*PhoneNumber# for another line, according to FirstBank's USSD page.
My bank debited me but Airtel data did not come. What do I do?
Check *323#, then contact your bank with the transaction reference. If the bank says it delivered, call Airtel on 300.
Is there a charge for buying data with bank USSD?
The bundle costs Airtel's price. A USSD session charge may also apply; check your airtime and statement.
Sources
- GTBank 737 features · accessed Oct 2026
- FirstBank USSD banking (*894#) · accessed Oct 2026
- Keystone Bank USSD banking (*7111#) · accessed Oct 2026
- TechCabal: Why telcos will now deduct USSD charges from your airtime (10 June 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
- Airtel Nigeria: Frequently asked questions · accessed Oct 2026
- NCC Consumer Portal: procedure to file a complaint · 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.