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The short answer
Dial *894*Amount*AccountNumber# from your registered line, for example *894*5000*0123456789# to send ₦5,000, choose the receiving bank from the menu, check the name shown and confirm with your five-digit Quick Banking PIN. The same string works for First Bank and other banks. First Bank's USSD page does not publish a per-transfer or daily *894# limit, so the menu will tell you if an amount is too high.
The transfer string
First Bank's *894# page lists one string for sending money: *894*Amount*AccountNumber#. The amount is typed in naira without the ₦ sign or commas, and the account number is the recipient's ten-digit NUBAN. Kuda's help centre, describing how customers fund Kuda accounts from other banks, gives the same First Bank string and says to select the receiving bank by name in the menu.
Step by step
- Make sure you are registered for *894# Quick Banking and are dialling from the number enrolled for SMS alerts on your account.
- Dial *894*Amount*AccountNumber#. For ₦25,000 to account 0123456789, that is *894*25000*0123456789#.
- If you have more than one account on the number, choose the one to debit.
- Select the recipient's bank from the list. If the bank is not on the first screen, look for a 'next' or 'more' option.
- Check the recipient's name if the menu shows it. If it does not match the person you meant to pay, end the session.
- Enter your five-digit Quick Banking PIN (not your four-digit card PIN).
- Wait for the confirmation. Ask the recipient to confirm they have been credited before you treat it as settled.
What a transfer costs
Two charges can apply to an *894# transfer to another bank.
The transfer fee
The CBN's Guide to Charges, effective 1 January 2020, says USSD transfers attract the prevailing NIP (NIBSS Instant Payment) charges, which the Guide caps at ₦10 below ₦5,000, ₦25 from ₦5,000 to ₦50,000 and ₦50 above ₦50,000. First Bank's own FAQ page lists slightly different bands for transfers to other banks, inclusive of VAT: ₦10.75 below ₦10,000, ₦26.88 from ₦10,000 to ₦49,999 and ₦52.50 from ₦50,000. That page is undated, so treat the amount shown on your confirmation screen and statement as the current charge.
Stamp duty
From 1 January 2026, under the Nigeria Tax Act 2025, a ₦50 stamp duty is deducted from the sender on electronic transfers of ₦10,000 or more. It replaced the old Electronic Money Transfer Levy, which was taken from the receiver. Transfers below ₦10,000 are reported as exempt.
| Example transfer | Fee (CBN 2020 band) | Fee (First Bank FAQ) | Stamp duty | Total leaving account (CBN band) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ₦4,000 | ₦10 | ₦10.75 | ₦0 | ₦4,010 |
| ₦25,000 | ₦25 | ₦26.88 | ₦50 | ₦25,075 |
| ₦80,000 | ₦50 | ₦52.50 | ₦50 | ₦80,100 |
These are worked examples only. The last column uses the CBN band; with the First Bank FAQ figures, the ₦80,000 transfer would cost ₦102.50 in charges. Mobile networks may also charge for the USSD session; First Bank does not publish that figure.
Paying a business or a landlord
The string First Bank publishes has no narration field, so the recipient sees only your name and the amount. For rent, school fees or a supplier invoice, that can make the payment hard to match. Three habits help:
- Send a message to the recipient straight after, with the amount, time and what it was for.
- Keep the confirmation SMS; it is the quickest evidence if the payment is queried.
- For larger or regular business payments, use FirstMobile or FirstOnline, where you can add a description that appears on both statements.
Sending between your own First Bank accounts is also done with the same string. Reports of the 2026 stamp duty rules, citing a First Bank customer notice, say transfers between your own accounts at the same bank are exempt from the ₦50 duty.
Limits
First Bank's USSD page and FAQ do not publish a per-transfer or daily cap for *894# as at October 2026. Two things still limit what you can send:
- Your account tier. Accounts opened with less identity information carry lower limits under the CBN's tiered KYC rules. See upgrading your First Bank tier.
- The channel. USSD limits are often lower than app limits; Fidelity Bank, for example, caps *770# transfers at ₦20,000 each. If a large amount is refused on *894#, use FirstMobile or FirstOnline.
Our guide to First Bank transfer limits collects what the bank publishes on each channel, and bank transfer limits in Nigeria covers the CBN framework.
If the transfer fails or hangs
- Check your balance with *894*00# before you try again, so you do not pay twice.
- If you were debited and the recipient was not credited, note the time, amount and account number and contact FirstContact on 02-014485500 or firstcontact@firstbanknigeria.com.
- If the menu refuses every debit, your account may be restricted; check for a Post No Debit order.
Where Pryme fits
Pryme does not run a USSD code. In the app, each transfer shows the fee on its own line before you approve; see sending money. For First Bank customers without data, *894# remains the quickest way to pay from any phone.
Questions people ask
What is the First Bank transfer code to other banks?
*894*Amount*AccountNumber#. After dialling, choose the receiving bank from the menu and confirm with your five-digit Quick Banking PIN.
How much does First Bank charge for USSD transfer?
The CBN caps it at the NIP bands (₦10, ₦25 or ₦50 by amount); First Bank's FAQ lists ₦10.75, ₦26.88 and ₦52.50 including VAT. ₦50 stamp duty is added on transfers of ₦10,000 or more.
What is the maximum I can transfer with First Bank *894#?
First Bank does not publish the figure. If an amount is too high, the menu will say so; use FirstMobile or FirstOnline for larger payments.
Which PIN do I use for First Bank USSD transfer?
Your five-digit Quick Banking PIN, created when you registered with *894*0#.
Sources
- FirstBank: USSD *894# Quick Banking page · accessed Oct 2026
- FirstBank: Frequently asked questions · accessed Oct 2026
- Kuda Help: Add money by USSD · 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 ₦50 charge on bank transfers (1 Jan 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- Fidelity Bank: Help and support FAQs · 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.