If you notice, GTBank sent a message (SMS and email) to customers to link NIN and BVN to the account. It is a CBN directive that all Nigerian banks must ensure customers update their accounts to avoid being blocked. Interestingly, there are convenient ways of linking BVN/NIN to your GTB account even without visiting the bank (unless you want to).
In this post, you will learn everything about linking BVN and NIN to a GTBank account and secure it. This includes:
- How to link BVN to GTBank using USSD code on the phone
- How to link BVN and NIN online with GTB self service portal
- If forgotten, steps to retrieve BVN and NIN easily
- How to convert NIN to vNIN required by GTBank
- Visiting GTBank branch to update NIN and BVN
- GTBank customer care details for BVN/NIN issues
- and lots more
Method 1. USSD Code to Link BVN GTBank Account
One of the easiest methods of linking BVN to a GTBank account is through the USSD code. With this, you secure your account without experiencing blocked transactions.
Here are the simple steps to update it:
Dial *737*20*BVN# on the phone to link BVN to your GTBank Bank account. Enter this code in this format, including the 11-digit BVN number, and follow the on-screen prompts to successfully submit it.
For example: To link BVN to your GTBank account, dial *737*20*31234567890# on your mobile phone. The “31234567890” here stands for your own 11-digit BVN number.
The GTBank BVN code works on all mobile networks in Nigeria. That is, you can dial it on Mtn, Glo, Airtel, or the 9mobile mobile network.
When using the USSD code to link BVN, take note of these things:
- Dial the USSD code on your GTBank registered phone number. You cannot link BVN to your GTB account by dialling the code from another phone.
- Enter accurately the BVN to link to your bank account. If the 11-digit number is incorrect or incomplete, GTBank will reject your application.
Downsides of Using USSD Code
1. USSD Code Fee:
It costs money to use the USSD code to link BVN to a GTBank account. Your mobile network will charge you 6.98 per transaction to process it.
2. Network Issue:
At times, the USSD code can be unreliable. Due to mobile or bank network issues, you may be unable to use the code to link BVN to your account.
So, if the USSD code to link BVN to your GTBank bank account is not working, use GTB self service portal online or visit the nearest branch to do it.
3. No GTBank USSD Code for NIN:
There is no USSD code to link NIN to a GTB account. GTBank only provides a code to link BVN to a bank account; no similar code for NIN.
There 2 options to link NIN to a GTB account. The first option is using the convenient, online method. The second option is visiting GTBank branch which can be stressful.
Method 2: Link BVN & NIN to GTBank Online
The GTBank self-service portal provides the option of updating BVN and NIN to the account online. Using a smartphone or computer, GTBank customers can access this website to submit these details. Here are the steps:
How to Link NIN to GTBank Account Online
Do you want to link NIN to your GTBank online? use the GTBank self service portal. Use this method to secure your account without going to the bank. Here are the steps to follow:
1. Visit GTBank Self Service website
Visit the GTB Self Service portal where to link BVN to your GTBank account online. Click this link to go directly to the website.
The GTB self-service portal is not only for linking BVN/NIN to an account. It offers various services such as account opening/upgrading, dispense error, account blocking/unblocking etc.
2. Select BVN/NIN Linking
To link NIN to GTB account, you need to choose the BVN/NIN Linking service.
To do this, scroll to Service Type and click on it to view the list.
Then, select the BVN/NIN Linking option from the list and proceed to the next step.
3. Enter the GTBank Account Number
Input the GTB account number you wish to link with NIN. That is, enter the 10-digit NUBAN number in the required box. Then, move on to the next stage.
4. Generate and Enter the OTP code
Next, click on the Generate One Time Password button and GTBank will send a 6-digit OTP code to your registered phone and email.
Check your phone message app or email box to view the message from GTB and copy the code.
Then, paste the copied 6-digit code into the required box and click the Verify OTP button. The system will confirm it and you can proceed to the next step.
5. Generate Captcha Image
Here, GTB requires entering the information generated by the Captcha image. This is to ensure you are a human and not a robot.
Tap on Generate Captcha image and enter the information you see there. It usually contains alphanumeric characters. Note that it is case sensitive; if you see “D” do not enter “d”.
After this, click on the Submit form button to move to the next page of linking NIN to your GTB account.
6. Link vNIN to GTBank Account
Here is the actual page to link your NIN to your GTB account
GTBank requires entering vNIN to link to your account, not the NIN. vNIN is a virtual NIN consisting of a 14-digit generated from NIN.
To generate your vNIN, dial *346*3*yourNIN*292968# or use the NIMC mobile app.
To understand these 2 methods, skip to this post section that explains how to generate vNIN for your GTBank account.
How to Link BVN to GTBank Account Online
To link BVN to your GTBank online, use the GTBank self service portal. This is a convenient way of updating your BVN without going to the bank.
Here are the steps to follow:
1. Visit the GTBank Self Service website
To link BVN to your GTBank account online, visit the GTB Self Service portal. Click this link to go directly to the website.
2. Select BVN/NIN Linking
To link BVN to the GTBank account, you need to use the BVN/NIN Linking service.
To do this, scroll to Service Type and click on it to view the list.
Then, select BVN/NIN Linking option from the list and proceed to the next step.
3. Enter the GTBank Account number
Input the GTB NUBAN account number you wish to link with BVN.
Enter the 10-digit NUBAN number in the required box.
4. Enter the OTP code
Next, click on the Generate One Time Password button and GTBank will send a 6-digit OTP code to your registered phone and email.
Check your phone message app or email box to copy the code.
Then, paste the copied 6-digit code into the required box and click the Verify OTP button. The system will confirm it and you can proceed to the next step.
5. Generate Captcha Image
Here, GTB requires you to enter the information generated by the Captcha image
Tap on Generate Captcha image and enter the information you see there. Note that it is case-sensitive; if you see “G” do not enter “g”.
After this, click on the Submit form button to move to the next page of linking BVN to your GTB account.
6. Link BVN to your GTBank Account
This is the actual page to link BVN and NIN to your GTB account.
Tick the Bank Verification Number option and enter the 11-digit number in the required box.
Lastly, click on the Submit form button to submit the BVN details
That is all! You have successfully linked BVN to your GTB account using the online method.
Method 3: GTBank Bank Branch
For those who prefer a physical approach, linking the BVN and NIN to a GTBank Bank account can be done at a GTBank Bank branch.
To do this,
- Visit any GTBank branch nearest to you.
- Approach the bank staff at the customer care section
- Request to link your BVN and NIN to your GTBank bank account.
- Provide your GTBank account number, BVN and NIN details as required.
- The representative will link it to your account and confirm on the spot that it is successful.
Requirements to Link BVN & NIN to GTBank Account
To successfully link BVN & NIN to the account, GTB customers must provide some vital details. Here are the requirements:
1. GTBank Bank Account Number:
Your GTBank Bank account number is a crucial requirement for the linking process. Of course, you must state the specific account number to link a BVN/NIN to.
Ensuring the accuracy of these details is crucial to facilitate a smooth verification process.
Whether you choose to link your BVN or NIN through USSD codes, email, online forms, or by visiting a GTBank Bank branch, having these
2. BVN (Bank Verification Number):
The most important requirement is to link your BVN to your GTBank bank account.
But if you cannot remember your BVN information, you can retrieve it in different ways. You can dial *565*0# on the phone number linked to your BVN or visit the bank you enrolled in.
3. NIN (National Identification Number):
Although GTBank does not accept linking accounts with NIN but vNIN, NIN is useful during the process.
Essentially, it is through NIN that you can generate vNIN to link to the GTB account. This is why it is crucial.
For example, to use vNIN through USSD code, you must dial *346*3*yourNIN*292968#
4. vNIN (Virtual National Identification Number):
GTBank requires linking of vNIN to the bank account and not NIN. This is unlike to other banks in Nigeria such as Zenith, VFD and Fidelity that accept NIN.
To get this code, you can either dial *346*3*yourNIN*292968# or use the NIMC mobile app
Two things to note about vNIN:
- vNIN expires after 72 hours. Ensure you use the code within this time frame. Else, you will need to generate another vNIN code for your GTB account.
- The vNIN 16-digit number is specific to each enterprise in Nigeria. You cannot use this generated vNIN for other banks or businesses except for GTBank.
Why Link BVN/NIN to Your GTBank Account Now
1. CBN Directive:
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has mandated that all bank accounts must be linked with either the BVN (Bank Verification Number) or NIN (National Identification Number).
This directive came into effect on December 1, 2023. Failure to comply will result in restricted access to your account for transactions.
2. Account Security:
Linking your BVN or NIN to your GTBank Bank account adds an extra layer of security to your financial transactions. It helps verify your identity and curb fraudulent activities.
3. Account Restriction:
Any account not linked to BVN or NIN will be blocked. Such an account will not be able to receive deposits, withdraw money and send money until BVN and NIN are linked to the account.
That is, you cannot send money from the GTBank account to another bank account or withdraw your money until you link the BVN and NIN to your account.
But by linking the BVN or NIN to your GTBank Bank account now, you will avoid the transaction restriction.
How to Generate vNIN for GTBank Account
GTBank requires customers to link virtual NIN (vNIN) to their bank account. The vNIN is a tokenised version of an individual NIN consisting of 16 alphanumeric characters.
There are 2 ways of generating vNIN for the GTBank account. Either you use the USSD code or NIMC mobile app to get the vNIN code for GTB account. Here are the steps:
1. Generate vNIN for GTBank Account using USSD Code
To generate vNIN with the USSD code, dial *346*3*yourNIN*292968#. Here is how to use it
On your mobile phone, dial *346*3*11-digitNIN*292968# and send it. Within some seconds, you will receive the unique vNIN 16-digit number on your phone.
The next step is to link the vNIN to your GTBank account. You can do this online (GTB self-service portal) or visit a GTBank branch.
2. Generate vNIN for GTBank Account using NIMC App
GTBank customers can generate vNIN online with the NIMC app. Here are the steps to follow:
- Download the MWS mobile ID app on Google Playstore (Android) or App Store (iPhone).
- Sign up and create a unique PIN.
- Select Get Virtual PIN and click Get started to proceed
- Enter GTBank Enterprise Shortcode: Select Input Enterprise Short-code and enter 292968. Click submit and it will generate the 16-digit alphumerric code.
- Alternatively, use the search Approved Enterprise option to generate vNIN. Click on it, search for Guaranty Trust Bank from the list and select it. Lastly, proceed to generate Virtual NIN.
How to Retrieve Forgotten BVN or NIN Details
If you’ve forgotten your BVN or NIN details, don’t worry; there are steps you can take to retrieve them:
For BVN:
- Dial USSD Code: Dial *565*0# on the phone number linked to your BVN. This USSD code will display your BVN on your mobile screen.
- Visit Your Bank: Visit the bank where you enrolled for BVN, and inquire at the customer service desk. They will assist you in retrieving your BVN.
For NIN:
- Check National ID Card: If you have a National ID card or slip, your NIN is printed on it. Check the front side for the number.
- NIMC Website: Visit the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) website and use their online services to retrieve your NIN.
- Visit NIMC Enrollment Center: Visit the NIMC enrollment center where you registered for NIN. They can assist you in retrieving your NIN.
GTBank Customer Care Service
If you encounter any challenges or have questions regarding the BVN or NIN linking process with your GTBank Bank account, the GTBank Customer Care team is readily available to assist you. Here’s how you can reach out for support:
1. Customer Care Hotline:
Dial GTBank Bank’s customer care hotline at +234 700 4826 66328, +234 1 448 0000 to speak to a representative about your enquiries.
2. Email Support:
Send an email to the GTBank Bank support team at gtbankmailsupport@gtbank.com. Clearly state your inquiry and include relevant details, such as your GTBank Bank account number.
3. Social Media:
Reach out to GTBank Bank through their official social media channels (e.g., Twitter, Facebook).
Send a direct message to any of these accounts, stating your enquiry. A GTBank customer care representative will reply to your message in due time.
4. GTBank Bank Branch:
If you prefer physical assistance, visit the nearest GTBank Bank branch during business hours.
Customer service representatives at the branch will readily assist you with any BVN or NIN linking queries.
FAQs on How to Update BVN/NIN to GTBank Account
Conclusion
In summary, GTBank Bank offers convenient methods for BVN/NIN linking, including USSD code, online form, and in-person visits to any GTB branch. This makes it easy to choose the one that best suits your needs and unlock your account.
Act fast to link BVN and NIN to your GTBank Bank account and secure your account. Do this to continue enjoying the account benefits and avoid being restricted from transactions
I hope you find this information helpful. If you do, consider sharing it with someone who may need it too.
Therefore, try it and let me know your experience by leaving a message in the comment section below or Facebook page.
