N6.98 USSD charge to be deducted from GTBank’s customers airtime from today

Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) has notified customers that it is adopting the new billing model for Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) banking transactions effective today. This makes GTB the second deposit bank to adopt the airtime for USSD transactions model.

In a message to customers, the bank noted that the N6.98 transaction fee will now be deducted from airtime balances, rather than bank accounts, beginning from today, June 18, 2025.

“Dear Customer, please be informed that effective 18 June 2025, the N6.98 USSD fee will be deducted from your airtime balance, no longer from your bank account. Thank you,” the message said.

The development reflects the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) effort to collaborate with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to resolve the persistent N250 billion USSD debt owed by commercial banks to telecom operators.

Recall that mobile network operators (MNOs) like Airtel, MTN, and Globacom recently intensified their clamour over the unpaid debt, stressing its effect on their businesses. The operators also threatened to shut down USSD services due to incurring losses, a move that was halted following interventions by government authorities.

In a strategic intervention, a joint statement issued in December by both NCC and CBN directed commercial banks and telecom operators to resolve the dispute through a document outlining the payment procedures and operational guidelines to follow when clearing the debts.

The agencies stressed that 85% of the USSD debts that accumulated after February 2022 and agreed that outstanding invoices must be paid by December 31, 2024. Commercial banks were also required to ensure that 85% of future invoices are settled within one month of issuance.

The document also mandated that 60% of the debts incurred before the implementation of Application Programming Interfaces in February 2022 must be finalised by January 2, 2025, with full settlement due by July 2, 2025.

Recent reports confirmed that banks have been adhering to the debt payment structure.

To prevent a repeat, the regulator ordered commercial banks to start deducting charges for USSD transactions directly from users’ mobile airtime. This represents a shift from the previous arrangement where deductions were made from users’ bank accounts.

Also Read: GTBank, Globus, others increase SMS charge from N4 to N6 from May 1st.

UBA’s implementation of Airtime for USSD

Recall that the United Bank for Africa (UBA) has previously effected the arrangement, following the directives by the NCC.

In an email to customers on June 3, UBA noted that the USSD charges will no longer be deducted from customers’ accounts but directly from users’ mobile airtime balance following the NCC’s End-User Billing model.

The USSD session will attract a charge of N6.98 per 120 seconds and be billed by customers’ mobile network operators.

“In line with the directive of the Nigerian Communications Commission, please be informed that effective June 3, 2025, charges for USSD banking services will no longer be deducted from your bank account,” the statement noted.

In addition to the notification, UBA explained that customers will receive a consent prompt at the start of each session, while the airtime will be deducted subject to confirmation and availability of the bank’s services.

Customers also have the option to discontinue the USSD service anytime that they wish 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,” it reads.

The USSD service has been a banking alternative for users due to its usage without the need for an internet connection, and has been a vital service, enabling customers to conduct banking transactions without internet access.