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The short answer
To send money with FCMB USSD, dial *329*amount*account number# from the phone number linked to your FCMB account, pick the recipient bank, check the name and confirm with your USSD PIN. The same string works for FCMB and other banks. You must first register on *329# with your account number and create a transaction PIN, as FCMB's USSD terms require.
FCMB's USSD service runs on *329#. It works on any phone, needs no data, and is open to all FCMB Retail and Personal Business Account customers, according to the bank's own USSD Banking Terms. This guide covers the one-time registration, the transfer string itself, what the session costs, the limits question and what to do if money leaves your account but does not arrive.
Before your first transfer: register on *329#
FCMB's terms say customers register by dialling *329# "with the use of their account number" and creating a transaction PIN. In practice that means:
- Use the SIM card whose number is linked to your FCMB account. USSD banking identifies you by that number, so a different line will not reach your account.
- Dial *329# and follow the registration prompts.
- Enter your FCMB account number when asked.
- Create your USSD PIN. Do not use your birth year, 1234 or your card PIN.
- Keep the PIN to yourself. The terms treat use of your PIN by someone else as being with your consent, which makes recovering a loss much harder.
FCMB's terms also say you must be over 18 to accept them. If you have forgotten the PIN you created, see how to reset an FCMB *329# PIN; a third-party list published by Kuda gives the reset string as *329*0#.
The transfer string, step by step
The code most widely published for FCMB transfers, including on Kuda's list of bank USSD codes (dated 17 October 2025), is a single string for both FCMB and other banks:
- Send to any bank
- *329*amount*account number#
- Example
- *329*15000*0123456789# sends ₦15,000 to account 0123456789 (an example number)
- Main menu
- *329#
- Balance
- *329*00#
- Dial the string with no commas, spaces or naira sign in the amount.
- Choose the recipient's bank from the list the menu shows. If the bank is not on the first screen, look for a "next" or "more" option.
- Read the account name that comes back. This is the step that prevents wrong transfers: if the name is not the person you mean, cancel.
- Confirm with your USSD PIN.
- Wait for the debit alert and keep the reference. The recipient should see a credit alert from their own bank, not a screenshot; see how to spot a fake transfer receipt.
What a *329# transfer costs
Two separate charges can apply, and a third is a tax:
| Charge | Who sets it | What the source says |
|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer fee | FCMB, within CBN limits | CBN's Guide to Charges (effective 1 January 2020) says USSD transfers attract the prevailing NIP (instant transfer) charges. Check the fee shown in the menu or on your alert. |
| USSD session cost | Your mobile network | FCMB's terms say the bank is not liable for any cost you incur to access *329#, and not for extra costs when you use it outside Nigeria. The network charge appears on your airtime. |
| Stamp duty | Federal Government | From 1 January 2026 a ₦50 stamp duty applies to electronic transfers of ₦10,000 or more and is deducted from the sender, per Techeconomy's report of 1 January 2026. |
For the full fee picture, including alert and card charges, see FCMB charges: transfers, SMS alerts and card fees.
Worked example
Example only: you send ₦15,000 to a friend at another bank. Under the 2020 CBN bands the transfer fee for ₦5,000 to ₦50,000 was up to ₦25; stamp duty adds ₦50 because the amount is ₦10,000 or more. Total debited: ₦15,000 + ₦25 + ₦50 = ₦15,075, plus whatever your network charges for the session. The figure FCMB actually applies today is the one on your alert.
Is there a USSD transfer cap?
Yes, but FCMB does not print the amount in its USSD terms. The terms mention a "Limit Increase" feature and say the customer takes responsibility for fraud or loss arising from a limit increase. USSD caps in Nigerian banks are usually lower than app caps because the channel has weaker authentication. Our guide to FCMB daily transfer limits on app and USSD explains how the account tier and the channel together set your ceiling. If a transfer is declined for "limit exceeded", split it across days or use the FCMB Mobile app.
When a *329# transfer fails or hangs
- Session timed out before you entered the PIN: nothing was sent. Check your balance with *329*00# before trying again so you do not send twice.
- Debited but the recipient has no credit: ask the recipient to check again after a few hours, then contact FCMB with the date, amount and reference. Failed instant transfers are normally reversed to the sender.
- Sent to the wrong account: act the same day. See how to reverse a wrong transfer on FCMB.
- Phone lost or stolen: the code *329*911# is listed by Kuda for deactivating FCMB USSD. Call FCMB as well, and block the SIM with your network.
What to check first
- You are dialling from the number linked to the account.
- You have registered and created a USSD PIN.
- The account name shown matches the person you mean to pay.
- You have enough airtime for the session and enough balance for the amount, fee and stamp duty.
Where Pryme fits
Pryme is a technology company, not a bank; naira deposits are held by Solid Allianze Microfinance Bank, licensed by the CBN and insured by the NDIC up to the applicable limit. In the Pryme app you send money to any Nigerian bank with the recipient's name shown before you approve, and your login is protected by an authenticator app and a transaction PIN rather than SMS codes. Keeping your FCMB account and a Pryme account side by side is a simple way to have a second route when one channel is down.
Questions people ask
What is the FCMB transfer code to other banks?
The string published by Kuda (17 October 2025) is *329*amount*account number#, the same for FCMB and other banks. You then choose the recipient bank from the menu and confirm with your USSD PIN.
How do I create an FCMB USSD PIN?
Dial *329# from the phone number linked to your FCMB account, enter your account number when asked and create a PIN, as FCMB's USSD terms describe.
Why is my FCMB USSD transfer not going?
Common causes are dialling from an unlinked number, a wrong PIN, a session time-out, low airtime or exceeding your USSD limit. Check your balance with *329*00# before retrying.
How much does FCMB charge for USSD transfer?
CBN rules say USSD transfers attract the prevailing NIP charge, your network charges for the session, and ₦50 stamp duty applies on transfers of ₦10,000 or more from 1 January 2026. Your alert shows the actual fee.
Sources
- FCMB: USSD Banking Terms and Conditions (*329#) · accessed Oct 2026
- Kuda blog: USSD codes for Nigerian banks and how to use them (17 Oct 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
- CBN: Guide to Charges by Banks, Other Financial and Non-Bank Financial Institutions (effective 1 Jan 2020) · accessed Oct 2026
- Techeconomy: Stamp duty replaces EMTL, sender to bear N50 charge (1 Jan 2026) · 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.