HOW-TO

How to Check Which Bank Accounts Are Linked to Your BVN

Why there is no single public list of every account tied to your BVN, and the safe ways to find out which accounts you hold.

Step by step

1. Know your BVN firstYou need your BVN to make enquiries. To see your own BVN, dial *565*0# from the phone number linked to it. As of 2026 a small fee (around N20) may be deducted from your airtime; confirm the current charge. Note this shows the number itself, not your accounts.
2. Check inside each bank's appLog in to each of your bank or fintech apps. Your account number and profile are shown once you are signed in, and the app is tied to your BVN, so this confirms the accounts you actively use.
3. Use each bank's USSDDial your bank's own USSD code from the phone number registered with that bank to retrieve your account details. Each bank has a different code, so repeat this for every bank you suspect you hold an account with.
4. Ask your bank directlyVisit a branch or call the official customer-service line. After you verify your identity with your BVN and date of birth, the bank can pull up the accounts you hold with that institution and confirm the details.
5. Escalate if you suspect an unknown accountIf you fear an account was opened in your name, raise it with the bank concerned and, where needed, your bank's fraud desk, rather than any third-party 'checker'.

How the BVN actually links accounts

The Bank Verification Number (BVN) is a single biometric identity that ties together every account you open across Nigerian banks and licensed fintechs. Under the framework run by the CBN and NIBSS, that link exists inside the banking system, not on a public website. The consequence is important: while your BVN connects your accounts behind the scenes, only licensed institutions can read the full list of account numbers attached to it. There is no consumer portal that prints out ‘all your accounts’. If you are still confirming your BVN itself, start with how to check your BVN.

What *565*0# does and does not do

A common misunderstanding is that dialling *565*0# reveals your linked accounts. It does not. That USSD code returns your BVN number on the SIM registered to it, which is useful when you have forgotten the number, but it says nothing about which accounts exist. To map your accounts you have to approach the banks themselves.

The practical ways to find your accounts

Because the authoritative list sits with each bank, the realistic method is to check bank by bank. Your mobile apps show the accounts you actively use the moment you log in. Each bank’s own USSD code, dialled from the number registered with that bank, returns the account details for that institution. And a branch visit or a call to a verified customer-service line lets staff look up what you hold there after you confirm your BVN and date of birth. It is slower than a single lookup, but it is the only accurate route for an individual.

If you suspect an account you did not open

People often search for their linked accounts because they fear identity misuse. If that is your concern, raise it directly with the bank in question and your bank’s fraud desk. For a wider response plan, read what to do if your BVN or NIN is compromised. If you also need to fix wrong details on your record, see how to update or correct your BVN details.

Staying safe while you check

Checking your accounts should never involve handing your codes to a stranger. Your BVN on its own cannot empty an account, but paired with a one-time password or PIN it can. Treat any ‘agent’ or site that offers to list your accounts in exchange for those codes as a scam; the patterns are covered in common NIN and BVN scams.

SabiGuide is an independent guide and is not affiliated with any government agency. Fees, links and steps can change — always confirm on the official portal before you act. This is general information, not legal or financial advice.