How to Check Your BVN: The Code, Your Bank App, and From Abroad (2026)
The quickest ways to find your 11-digit Bank Verification Number: the *565*0# code, your bank app, a branch, and what to do if you live abroad or no longer have the phone number linked to it.
The fastest way to check your BVN is to dial *565*0# from the phone number linked to it. Your 11-digit Bank Verification Number appears on screen within seconds. If that does not work, your bank app or any branch of your bank can show it. Each route is below, along with what to do if you live abroad or no longer have the linked number.
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Check Your BVN With *565*0#
*565*0# is the BVN retrieval code run by NIBSS, the company that manages the BVN database for the Central Bank of Nigeria. It works on MTN, Airtel, Glo and 9mobile, on any phone, without data.
- Use the SIM card whose number is linked to your BVN. This is usually the number you gave when you first enrolled.
- Dial *565*0# and press call.
- Your BVN is displayed on screen. Write it down or save it somewhere safe.
Your network usually charges a small fee for the request, typically ₦20. If the code returns nothing, the number you are dialling from is not the one linked to your BVN.
Check Your BVN in Your Bank App
Most Nigerian bank apps show your BVN in the profile, account details or settings section, because the bank holds it on your record. This is free and does not depend on which phone number is linked.
Check Your BVN at a Bank Branch
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Any branch of a bank where you hold an account can retrieve your BVN once you prove who you are. Bring a valid ID such as your NIN slip, international passport, driver's licence or voter's card. There is no charge for this.
Checking Your BVN From Abroad
The *565*0# code needs a Nigerian SIM, so it does not help if you only have a foreign number. From abroad, the practical routes are:
- Your Nigerian bank app or internet banking, if you still have access.
- Your bank's customer service by email or phone. Most will confirm a BVN once they have verified your identity.
A BVN is issued once and does not expire, even if the account it was enrolled with has been dormant for years. If you opened a Nigerian bank account at any point since enrolment began in 2014, you will have one.
Do not apply for a new BVN just because you cannot find the old one. Banks can find your existing BVN from your fingerprints, and a person can only hold one.
If You No Longer Have the Linked Phone Number
The code only works from the linked number, so a lost or changed SIM means using your bank app or a branch instead. Updating the linked number itself needs a visit to your bank. Since 1 May 2026 the Central Bank of Nigeria allows the phone number on a BVN to be changed only once in a lifetime, so choose a number registered in your own name that you will keep.
Need to update the number on your BVN? Read this first.
How to Change Your BVN Phone NumberWhy Your BVN Matters for Owning Shares
To buy shares on the Nigerian Exchange in your own name, a broker opens a CSCS account and Clearing House Number for you, and that identity check uses your full BVN. The names and date of birth on your BVN, your NIN, your bank account and your share records should match; a mismatch is one of the most common reasons share accounts and dividend payments are delayed.
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How Shares Saver WorksFrequently Asked Questions
What is the code to check my BVN?
*565*0#. Dial it from the phone number linked to your BVN. Networks usually charge a small fee, typically ₦20.
How many digits is a BVN?
A BVN has 11 digits.
Can I check my BVN online?
Yes, in your bank's app or internet banking, where it is usually shown under your profile or account details.
Can I check my BVN without the phone number linked to it?
Not with the code. Use your bank app, or visit a branch with a valid ID.
Does a BVN expire?
No. It is issued once and stays with you for life, even if the account you enrolled with is closed.
Can I have two BVNs?
No. The BVN system uses your fingerprints and photograph to make sure each person has only one.
Important disclaimer. This article is for general information and educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial advice, investment advice, or any recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security. The value of investments can fall as well as rise. You should seek independent regulated financial advice before making any investment decision. Shares Saver does not provide financial advice.
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