What Is BVN? Meaning, ₦20 *565*0# Check and Is It Safe to Share
Your BVN is the 11-digit number behind every Nigerian bank account. Here's how to see it with *565*0# for ₦20, why apps ask for it, and the phone call to hang up on.
A BVN (Bank Verification Number) is an 11-digit number that the Central Bank of Nigeria issues through NIBSS when you register your fingerprints and face photo at a bank. It ties every account you hold to one identity, so banks and licensed money apps can confirm you're really you.
That's the short answer to "what is BVN in Nigeria?" Below you'll find the ₦20 code that shows your number, why apps want it, and when sharing it turns risky.
What is BVN used for, and how do you check it?
You register once. NIBSS stores your fingerprints and photo, and every account you open later, at any bank, links back to those same 11 digits. CBN and the Bankers' Committee launched it in 2014.
To see your number, use a USSD code (the star-and-hash codes that work on any phone). Ignore "5650#", the starless version going round online. It's a typo.
- On the phone carrying the SIM registered to your BVN, dial *565*0#.
- Copy the 11 digits somewhere private, not into a chat you might forward.
Got your mum's BVN to fill in on a bank form? Dial *565*1#, type her 11 digits and send, then confirm the name that comes back is hers.
Prices as at 28 October 2026:
| Code | What you get | Fee | How to use it |
|---|---|---|---|
| *565*0# | Your own BVN | ₦20 | Dial from the phone number registered to your BVN |
| *565*1# | The name registered to a BVN you type in | ₦20 | Dial, then type the BVN you want to check |
Why money apps ask for it at sign-up
Bigger limits need proof of who you are. On AidaPay, reaching a level with higher transfer limits means giving your BVN, your NIN and a liveness check, a live selfie that shows a real person holds the phone. The details must match, and the level stays locked until they clear. Transfers to some banks also wait for that selfie step. Once you're verified, you get a permanent account in your name, usually with lower charges. If a step trips you up, the verification FAQ walks you through it.
Banks work the same way. CBN sorts accounts into tiers, with Tier 1 carrying the lowest limits, and since December 2023 a Tier 1 account or wallet needs a BVN or a NIN. Tier 2 and Tier 3 need both.
How it differs from your NIN
Both have 11 digits, which is why people mix them up. Your BVN belongs to banking. NIMC (the National Identity Management Commission) issues your NIN for things like SIM registration and passports, and plenty of apps ask for both.
Sharing it safely, and the call to hang up on
Treat your BVN like an ID number, not a password. Nobody can move your money with it alone, since they'd still need your PIN, password or one-time code (OTP).
The danger comes by phone. A calm voice "from your bank" or "from CBN" warns that your account gets blocked by evening, then asks for your BVN and the OTP that just landed. Hang up. No real bank asks for your OTP, PIN or card details to unblock anything.
Lending your BVN or account to a friend of a friend carries its own risk. CBN keeps a watch-list of BVNs tied to confirmed fraud, and once yours lands there, banks and other financial service providers won't open a new relationship with you.
So type it only into an app you opened yourself, on a screen asking for your BVN rather than a PIN or OTP. If you think someone has already misused it, call your bank today and ask it to flag the account.
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
What is the code to check my BVN?
How much does it cost to check BVN?
Can I check my BVN without my registered phone number?
Is it safe to give an app my BVN?
Is BVN the same as NIN?
How does BVN work?
Which code do I dial to verify someone's BVN?
Can I register for BVN online?
Sources
- NIBSS USSD validation services (*565*0#, *565*1#, ₦20 fee, registered line, no BVN if number linked to more than one BVN
- CBN Bank Verification Number page (launched 14 Feb 2014 by CBN with the Bankers' Committee; single identity in the banki
- CBN Circular on the Regulatory Framework for BVN Watch-list (watch-listed BVNs barred from new banking relationships)
- CBN Revised Regulatory Framework for BVN Operations and Watch-List (12 Oct 2021)
- NCC FAQ: NIN-SIM linkage
- NIMC
- AidaPay verification FAQs (BVN + NIN + liveness; why BVN is needed; locked levels; liveness before some bank transfers;
More like this.
TV subscriptions
DStv Starter Package ₦6,000: Yanga Moves Over, Padi May Pay More
Yanga users keep paying ₦6,000 on Starter with about eight more channels. Padi and Compact users face higher prices. Here's what t...
TV subscriptions
DStv Error Codes E16, E30, E48-32: What Each Means and the Fix
E16 after paying, E30 that won't move, or E48-32 in the rain? Here is what each DStv code means and the official way to clear it,...
Phones & internet
How to Hide Number on MTN: #31#, *31# and ₦0 Extra Per Call
Type #31# before the number and your MTN call shows as private, at no extra cost. Here's the all-calls switch, the phone settings,...