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
NIBSS lists a charge of ₦20 for *565*0#, the code that retrieves your BVN, on its USSD Validation Service page (updated November 2025); the same ₦20 applies to *565*1#, which validates a BVN. You can avoid it by reading your BVN in your bank's mobile app or internet banking, or by asking at a branch.
The published charge
NIBSS runs the *565 service "in collaboration with all Banks" and publishes a short table of codes and charges. As at November 2025, when the page was last updated, it showed:
| Code | What it does | Charge listed by NIBSS |
|---|---|---|
| *565*0# | Retrieve your BVN | ₦20 |
| *565*1# | Validate a BVN and see the registered name | ₦20 |
| *565*5# | Track a NIP transfer from the last 48 hours | ₦20 |
| *565*11# | Check a vehicle insurance policy | ₦20 |
The page does not say how the ₦20 is collected or whether it includes the mobile network's own session charge, so the deduction you see from your airtime may differ. Check the NIBSS page for the current figure before relying on it.
How USSD session charges work
USSD pricing has changed over the years. Access Bank's USSD FAQ explains that the bank charges nothing but networks charge ₦6.98 per USSD financial transaction, effective 6 June 2021, with airtime and data purchases exempt. TechCabal reported on 10 June 2025 that the NCC was moving to a model where telcos deduct ₦6.98 per session, priced per 120 seconds, directly from airtime, replacing collection by banks; it noted details were still being negotiated at the time.
*565*0# is a NIBSS enquiry rather than a bank transaction, so treat the NIBSS figure as the price of the service and expect your network to show the actual deduction. If you want certainty, check your airtime balance before and after.
Worked example
Example: you dial *565*0# once a month for a year to copy your BVN for forms. At the ₦20 NIBSS lists, that is 12 × ₦20 = ₦240 a year. Saving the number once in a secure place costs nothing after the first check.
Free ways to see your BVN
- Your bank's mobile app. A third-party guide by nairaCompare (October 2023) reports that apps from FirstBank, UBA, GTBank, Access and Zenith show the BVN under the Profile section. Menus change, so look under Profile, Account details or Settings.
- Internet banking. The profile or account information page often shows the BVN linked to the account.
- A bank branch. Staff can confirm your BVN after verifying your ID.
- Old paperwork. Your BVN acknowledgment slip or an account opening pack may carry it.
- Your bank's own USSD menu. Some banks show BVN in their own menu: GTBank's 737 page lists *737*6*1# for balance, BVN and account number. Bank USSD menus usually carry the network session charge.
Why *565*0# sometimes fails
- You are not dialling from the number registered for your BVN; NIBSS says the code must be dialled from that number.
- The phone number is linked to more than one BVN; NIBSS says no BVN is returned in that case.
- Your airtime is too low to cover the charge.
- The network or service is temporarily unavailable; try later rather than repeatedly, as each attempt may be charged.
For each of these, the routes above still work. Our step-by-step guides cover checking your BVN with *565*0# and checking without airtime.
When paying the ₦20 makes sense
The charge is small, and sometimes the USSD route is the quickest option. It makes sense when you have no smartphone or data, when your bank app does not display the BVN, or when you need the number urgently away from a branch. It is less sensible to use it repeatedly for the same number, or to use it to check someone else's BVN, which will not work from your phone anyway.
One related code is worth knowing. *565*1# validates a BVN and returns the registered name, which NIBSS also lists at ₦20. That is useful when an app keeps rejecting your name and you want to see exactly how the record reads. It is not a free alternative to *565*0#, but it can save you a wasted branch visit.
Who sets the price
NIBSS publishes the service charge for its own codes. Banks publish charges for their own USSD menus; Access Bank, for example, states that it charges nothing and the network charge applies. Telcos collect session charges under the arrangements the NCC and CBN have agreed, which TechCabal reported were being moved to direct airtime deduction in 2025. If a deduction looks wrong, your network's customer care is the place to ask, with the time you dialled and your balance before and after.
Where Pryme fits
Pryme accounts do not use SMS codes for security; they use an authenticator app and a transaction PIN, as described on our security page. You can buy airtime in the app if you need to top up before a USSD session.
Questions people ask
How much is *565*0#?
NIBSS lists ₦20 for *565*0# on its USSD Validation Service page, last updated November 2025. Check the page for the current figure.
Is checking BVN free?
The *565*0# code is charged. Viewing your BVN in your bank's app, on internet banking or at a branch does not carry that USSD charge.
Why was more than ₦20 taken from my airtime?
Network session charges may apply on top of, or in place of, the listed fee. The NIBSS page does not say how the ₦20 is collected.
Can I check my BVN on another person's phone?
No. NIBSS says *565*0# must be dialled from the phone number registered for your BVN.
Sources
- NIBSS: USSD Validation Service (*565), page updated 12 Nov 2025 · accessed Oct 2026
- Access Bank: USSD banking FAQs · accessed Oct 2026
- TechCabal: Why telcos will now deduct USSD charges from your airtime (10 Jun 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
- nairaCompare: How to check your BVN on First Bank, UBA, GTB and Access Bank (31 Oct 2023) · accessed Oct 2026
- GTBank: 737 features · 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.