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The short answer
Yes. Carbon's FAQ, as at October 2026, lists *1303# to fund your Carbon account, buy airtime or send money without data. Transfers to a bank use *1303*4*Amount*Account number#, and transfers to another Carbon wallet use *1303*3*Amount*Phone number#.
The Carbon USSD code and what it covers
Carbon is mainly an app, but its FAQ page, which we read in October 2026, says customers can dial *1303# to fund a Carbon account, buy airtime or send money. That matters for anyone with weak data, an old phone, or an urgent payment when the app will not load. USSD runs over the mobile network's signalling channel, so it works on any handset that can make calls.
The code should be dialled from the phone number registered on your Carbon account. A USSD session identifies you by your line, so dialling from a different SIM will not reach your account.
The exact strings
Carbon's FAQ gives these shortcut strings. Replace the words with your own figures, with no spaces or commas.
| What you want | String from Carbon's FAQ | Example (illustration only) |
|---|---|---|
| Main menu | *1303# | *1303# |
| Airtime for yourself | *1303*Amount# | *1303*500# |
| Airtime for someone else | *1303*Amount*Phone No# | *1303*500*08030000000# |
| Send to a Carbon wallet | *1303*3*Amount*Phone No# | *1303*3*5000*08030000000# |
| Send to a bank account | *1303*4*Amount*Acct No# | *1303*4*5000*0123456789# |
The phone and account numbers in the example column are placeholders, not real accounts. After dialling, the network will show the recipient's details and ask you to confirm, usually with your transaction PIN. Read the name shown before you confirm: a single wrong digit in an account number can send money to a stranger.
Limits still apply on USSD
USSD is a different door into the same account, so the same KYC limits apply. Carbon's FAQ sets them by level:
- Level 1: ₦0 per transfer, ₦0 a day.
- Level 2: ₦50,000 per transfer, ₦300,000 a day, ₦500,000 balance.
- Level 3: ₦1,000,000 per transfer, ₦5,000,000 a day.
Many banks also apply a lower cap to USSD than to the app, because a USSD session is protected only by the SIM and the PIN. Carbon's FAQ does not state a separate USSD cap, so if a USSD transfer is refused at an amount the app would allow, try the app or a smaller amount. Our guide to Carbon transfer limits and charges explains each level.
What a USSD session may cost
Carbon's FAQ does not state a charge for using *1303#. In Nigeria, USSD sessions for banking are often billed by the mobile network to your airtime, separately from any bank fee, and the amount can change. Check the notice shown at the start of the session, and keep a little airtime on the line if you rely on USSD. Any transfer fee from Carbon itself appears on the confirmation screen before you approve.
Worked example (illustration only)
Amaka's data has run out and she needs to send her younger brother ₦12,000 for transport to school. She is at Level 2. She dials *1303*4*12000*0123456789#, checks the name returned, and confirms with her PIN. ₦12,000 is under the ₦50,000 single transfer cap and the ₦300,000 daily cap, so the transfer can proceed. If she had needed to send ₦60,000, she would split it into ₦50,000 and ₦10,000, two separate sessions.
When to use USSD and when to use the app
USSD is best as a fallback. It needs no data and no smartphone, it works in places where mobile internet is patchy, and it is quick for routine payments to people you pay often. Its weaknesses are the other side of the same coin: the screen shows little detail, sessions time out if you are slow, and there is no transaction history to scroll back through while you are in the menu.
- Use USSD for small, urgent transfers and airtime when data is off.
- Use the app for large payments, first-time recipients and anything you may need a receipt for later.
- If a USSD session times out after you confirmed, check your balance or SMS alert before you try again, so you do not pay twice.
- If money left your account but did not arrive, raise it with Carbon support with the date, time, amount and recipient details.
Safety on USSD
- Never dial a code someone sends you by text or WhatsApp to 'reverse' a payment or 'release' your account. Fraudsters use USSD strings that move money out.
- Keep your transaction PIN to yourself; Carbon's staff do not need it.
- If your phone or SIM is lost, ask your network to block the SIM at once and contact Carbon; our guide on a stolen phone and bank apps lists the steps.
- Carbon's published support channels, per its FAQ, are support@getcarbon.co, 02013301808 and the in-app Support option.
Where Pryme fits
Pryme is app-based and protects payments with an authenticator app rather than SMS codes, plus a transaction PIN; Pryme security explains why. Airtime and data can be bought in the app through Pryme airtime.
Questions people ask
What is the USSD code for Carbon?
Carbon's FAQ lists *1303#, as at October 2026, for funding your account, buying airtime and sending money.
How do I transfer from Carbon to another bank with USSD?
Dial *1303*4*Amount*Account number# from your registered line, check the name shown, then confirm with your PIN.
Can I buy airtime on Carbon without data?
Yes. Carbon's FAQ gives *1303*Amount# for your own line and *1303*Amount*Phone number# for someone else's.
Is there a charge for Carbon USSD?
Carbon's FAQ does not state one. Your network may bill the session to your airtime; check the notice shown when the session starts.
Sources
- Carbon FAQs · accessed Oct 2026
- Carbon personal banking · 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.