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By Daniel Adaji
Nearly one month after announcing a major billing change, Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria will, from July 15, begin deducting USSD banking fees directly from customers’ mobile airtime balances rather than their bank accounts.
In a message sent to customers on Monday, First Bank of Nigeria said, “Dear Customer, please be informed that effective July 15th, 2025, N6.98 USSD fee will be deducted from your airtime balance, no longer from your bank account. Thank you.”
This development follows the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) directive issued earlier on June 3, introducing an End-User Billing (EUB) model that mandates mobile network operators—not banks—to collect USSD service charges.
United Bank for Africa (UBA), which was among the first to inform its customers, explained: “Charges for USSD banking services will no longer be deducted from your bank account. These charges will be deducted directly from your mobile airtime balance in accordance with the NCC’s End-User Billing (EUB) model.”
Under the new billing structure, customers will be charged N6.98 for every 120 seconds of a USSD session. Banks also clarified that users will be prompted to give consent before any airtime deduction takes place.
“You will receive a consent prompt at the start of each session and airtime will only be deducted upon your confirmation and availability of the bank to fulfil this service,” UBA added.
Those unwilling to continue under the new model have the option to opt out. “If you do not wish to continue using USSD banking under this new model, you may choose to discontinue use of the USSD channel,” the message stated.
To ensure continued access to services, banks are urging customers to explore other channels. “Alternative digital banking options, such as our mobile app and internet banking platform, remain available for your convenience,” UBA noted.
The NCC introduced the EUB framework to resolve longstanding disputes between banks and telecom providers over who should bear the cost of USSD transactions. By shifting the billing to telecoms, the commission seeks to improve transparency and user control.
The banks assured customers that they remain committed to delivering secure, accessible, and customer-friendly banking services.