7-10banking-basics

USSD codes for banking

Explore why uSSD's power is inclusivity — it works on a feature phone with no data.

In this lesson

USSD codes for banking is part of Digital Banking. This preview shows how banking-basics connects to everyday family decisions such as earning, saving, spending choices, goals, approvals, or parent-guided money conversations inside Progress Penguin.

Think about this money choice

Imagine this situation: Your smartphone runs out of data and you urgently need to check your balance before a transfer.

How it works

USSD's power is inclusivity — it works on a feature phone with no data. This makes banking accessible to people in areas with poor data coverage or those who cannot afford smartphones.

Try a real-life example

Real-life money moment: GTBank USSD: *737#. Access Bank: *901#. You need to send 5000 in local currency urgently but have no data. You bank with Access Bank.

Activity preview

Match the money ideas

Use what you learned to complete this short challenge.

Quiz preview

USSD codes are useful because:

Faster than data

Cost zero

Colourful

Work without internet

Your smartphone runs out of data and you urgently need to check your balance before a transfer. What can you use?

Wait until you have data in practical terms in most everyday cases

Visit a branch in practical terms given the circumstances

Use your bank's USSD code (e.g. GTBank *737#) — works without internet on any phone

Ask the recipient to check for you as a general rule