You’ll agree that your BVN is essential for every financial transaction in Nigeria. It’s the ultimate financial identification number, from opening a new bank account to filling out KYC forms.

I recall a personal experience where I had to retrieve an issue with my bank account, and while filling out the customer service form, I realized I needed my BVN. But let’s be honest, who memorizes an 11-digit number? 

Anyway, the good news is that it’s easily accessible! 

In this blog post, I’ll share how I easily retrieved my BVN number, and you can do the same but first let’s look at what a BVN means. 

What is BVN?

BVN simply means Bank Verification Number. It is a biometric identification number initiated by the Central Bank of Nigeria to reduce illegal bank transactions in Nigeria. The goal of the Bank Verification Number is to easily verify the identity of each Bank’s customer for ‘know your customer’(KYC) purposes.

Before your BVN is generated, you need to go through the enrolment process. This involves capturing your details, such as fingerprints and facial images, after which your BVN is generated.

This Verification Number helps curb fraud, increase the efficiency of banking operations, and enable customer access to future credit facilities. 

What are the Benefits of  BVN in Nigeria?

According to NIBSS, here are some of the reasons you need a Bank Verification Number:

1. BVN gives you a unique identity that can be verified across the Nigerian Banking Industry (N/B: It is not peculiar to one Bank)
2. Customers Bank Accounts are protected from unauthorized access
3. It will address issues of identity theft, thus reducing exposure to fraud
4. The BVN enhances the Banking Industry’s chances of being able to fish out blacklisted customers
5. Reduce queues in Banking Halls
6. Standardized efficiency of Banking operations
7. The customer-unique BVN is accepted as a means of identification across ALL Nigerian Bank

How Can I Check My BVN?

1. Using a USSD Code

You can easily check your BVN on your phone. Simply dial the code *565*0# using the phone number you used to register your BVN. Following the prompts displayed after you dial the code, your BVN will be displayed on your mobile device for a service fee of N20 only.

 2. Via Internet banking

Another way you can check your BVN is through Internet banking. However, it is not all banks that permit you to view your verification number. 

To check your BVN on your banking app, simply follow these steps:

• Visit your Internet banking website.
• Sign in using your details.
• Check the menu for the “Account Settings” or “Account Details” option. Then you will be able to view your BVN there. 

3. Mobile App

To check your BVN on your banking app, simply follow these steps:

• Visit your mobile app.
• Sign in using your details.
• Click on the “Account Details” option.
• Select “Identification” or “BVN” from the options. 

 FAQ

How Many Digits is BVN?

The Bank Verification Number (BVN) is an 11-digit number used to identify individuals across the Nigerian banking industry. The BVN ensures greater security on access to sensitive and personal information in the banking system.

How Can I Enrol for BVN?

1. Visit any branch of the bank where you have an account.
2. Locate the Customer Service unit to get a BVN Enrolment form.
3. Fill out the form.
4. Complete the required biometric process (fingerprints and facial capture).
5. Collect the enrolment acknowledgment slip which contains a transaction ID. After which you will receive a confirmation SMS.

Conclusion

Your BVN is a vital component of Nigeria’s financial industry. It provides a secure and unique identification system for banking transactions. With its numerous benefits, including fraud prevention and standardized banking operations, understanding how to check your BVN is essential.

There are several ways you can access your identification number either via USSD code, internet banking, or mobile apps.