Exponent News Akure
Banks to Stop USSD Charges on Customer Accounts, Shift Billing to Mobile Airtime
By Exponent News, Akure, 4th June 2025.
In compliance with a new directive from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), banks across the country will cease deducting charges for USSD banking services directly from customers’ bank accounts.
Effective Tuesday, June 3, 2025, USSD charges will now be billed from customers’ mobile airtime balances in line with the NCC’s End-User Billing (EUB) model. This transition is aimed at enhancing transparency and improving user experience across digital financial platforms.
According to the new structure, each USSD session will attract a charge of ₦6.98 per 120 seconds. This fee will be deducted by the customer’s mobile network operator. Users will receive a consent prompt at the beginning of each session, and airtime will only be debited upon confirmation and service availability from the respective bank.
Customers who prefer not to use the USSD platform under the new billing model are advised to opt for alternative digital channels. These include mobile banking apps, automated teller machines (ATMs), and internet banking platforms, which remain operational and accessible.
Banks have reaffirmed their commitment to providing secure, user-friendly, and inclusive banking services while ensuring customers are fully informed about changes affecting service access and fees.
