Banking
Wema Bank, Etisalat Launch WemaEasySavers Account For Nigerian Youth
By Dipo Olowookere
One of Nigeria’s foremost financial institutions, Wema Bank Plc, has partnered with Etisalat Nigeria to introduce the WemaEasySavers, a Tier-1 savings account aimed at ensuring financial inclusion for more Nigerians, especially the youth.
The newly launched WemaEasySavers is an easy to open and use account designed to enable under-banked and unbanked Nigerian youth to achieve their financial goals while operating a regular bank account through their mobile phones.
This partnership will enable Wema Bank’s new drive to expand its presence in the youth market and also forms a strong part of Etisalat’s commitment towards driving the achievement of the Federal Government’s financial inclusion goal.
The bank, which recently launched its USSD banking code *945#, is seeking to leverage the market-wide acceptance of the product and Etisalat’s strong appeal in the youth market to onboard new customers using a unique code *945*10#.
Speaking about the partnership, Director, Digital Business, Etisalat Nigeria, Mrs Adia Sowho, said the partnership was significant for the telco as a youth-friendly network.
“We are delighted at this partnership with Wema Bank as it provides Etisalat another platform to enable Mobile Financial Services that will empower the youth segment.
“Etisalat is passionate about the development of Nigerian youth and we continuously seek ways to add value to their lives, and Wema Bank also shares this same vision,” she said.
Head of Retail and SME Banking at Wema Bank, Mr Dotun Ifebogun welcomed the partnership as a significant milestone for the bank.
“At Wema Bank, we have a renewed focus on the youth market because we know how important the youth are to the growth and expansion of the Wema brand. That is why we launched the WemaEasySavers account in partnership with Etisalat,” he said.
Mr Ifebogun explained that any Etisalat subscriber can open the new WemaEasySavers account anywhere, anytime and on any type of phone, including feature phones, just by dialing *945*10#.
Accounts opened via *945*10# can be used instantly for transactions of up to N30,000 daily. However, it can be upgraded any time to other account types that give higher transaction limits. The WemaEasySavers account is the easiest account to open and operate anywhere in the country.
Wema Bank prides itself as having a robust Information Technology infrastructure while Etisalat Nigeria has been recognised as one of the best networks in the country and with these advantages, the partnership is expected to offer customers the easiest, yet effective way to bank.
Below are short codes on *945#
Short codes on *945#
Self help short codes
| Action | Short code | |
| 1 | Balance Enquiry(check balance) | *945*0# |
| 2 | Link BVN | *945*BVN# |
| 3 | Self-Recharge | *945*amount# |
| 4 | Buy Airtime | *945*phone Number*amount# |
| 5 | Change PIN | *945*00# |
| 6 | Get Account Number | *945*000# |
| 7 | Change account number | *945*2*oldaccountnumber*newaccountnumber# |
| 8 | Cash-on-the-Go(cardless withdrawal) | *945*8*amount# |
| 9 | Card Control(to prevent Card usage on platforms
(POS,ATM,Web countries) |
*945*11*last four digits of card# |
Bill Payment Short Codes
| Action | Shortcode | |
| 10 | Remita Payment | *945*9*RRR# |
| 11 | DSTV Subscription Payments | *945*16*smartcardnumber*amount# |
| 12 | GoTV Subscription Payments | *945*17*smartcardnumber*amount# |
| 13 | Startimes Payments | *945*18*smartcardnumber*amount# |
| 14 | EKO AND IKEJA DISCO | *945*19*meternumber*amount# |
| 15 | Smile Subscription Payments | *945*20*idnumber*amount# |
| 16 | Swift4GBroadband subscriptionPayments | *945*21*idnumber*amount# |
| 17 | Merchant Payments | *945*22*MERCHANTCODE*amount# |
Funds transfers Short codes
| Action | Shortcode | |
| 18 | Receive Western Union | *945*14*MTCN*amount# |
| 19 | Receive/ redeem money | *945*4*confirmationnumber*amount# |
| 20 | Send Money to phone/email | *945*5*amount# |
| 21 | Send Money | *945*accountnumber*amount# |
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
An initiative known as Nigeria Lightning Rounds, designed to expand funding opportunities for Nigerian startups and small businesses by connecting founders with local and international investors, has been launched by ProvidusUnity Bank, in partnership with US-based global venture firm and accelerator, gener8tor.
Scheduled to be held on July 15, 2026, Nigeria Lightning Rounds will feature carefully selected startups engaging with targeted investors who have expressed interest in supporting Nigerian innovation.
Participating founders will have the opportunity to pitch their businesses through focused 15-minute virtual sessions facilitated by gener8tor and ProvidusUnity Bank’s networks.
The program will focus on high-growth sectors including fintech, healthtech, manufacturing, sustainability, and AI, but welcomes SMEs from all industries, with intending participants urged to apply via https://www.gener8tor.com/lightning-rounds/nigeria.
“We recognise that access to capital remains one of the biggest challenges facing entrepreneurs in Nigeria. Through our partnership with gener8tor, we are creating a platform that connects promising Nigerian founders with investors who can provide the support required to scale their businesses,” the Head of Business Development at ProvidusUnity Bank, Mr Ernest Elue, stated.
“The partnership reinforces ProvidusUnity Bank’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s entrepreneurial ecosystem by supporting innovation, enabling access to opportunities, and creating pathways for businesses with high-growth potential,” he added.
Also commenting, the Director of Lightning Rounds at gener8tor, Ms Elizabeth Larios, said, “gener8tor is thrilled to partner with ProvidusUnity Bank to extend the Lightning Rounds model into Nigeria.
“This collaboration reflects our commitment to building equitable ecosystems and driving capital to the most promising and underrepresented entrepreneurs.”
Lightning Rounds are a signature initiative of gener8tor’s investment platform, which has facilitated thousands of investor-startup meetings globally. The format is optimised to eliminate friction, reduce bias in early-stage fundraising, and help founders secure capital from investors aligned with their mission and stage. gener8tor’s previous Lightning Rounds for Nigerian Founders in 2025 featured 18 participating Investors and led to 50 investment meetings facilitated.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The verification of the depositors of the 46 microfinance banks, whose operating licenses were revoked by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over a week ago, has commenced.
The exercise, aimed at refunding those whose funds were trapped in the small lenders, is being conducted by the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC).
In a statement on Thursday, the agency said its staff members have been positioned at the offices of the affected banks across the country to attend to depositors.
It was disclosed that depositors of the defunct banks, who had their Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs) linked to their accounts in the failed banks, will be paid through their alternative accounts in existing banks.
However, depositors whose BVNs were not linked to their accounts in the failed banks have been encouraged to visit the affected banks’ offices with proof of account ownership, a passport photograph, verifiable means of identification (Driver’s Licence, Permanent Voter’s Card, International Passport or National ID Card) and BVN.
NDIC also stated that depositors can alternatively file their claims online through its website: www.ndic.gov.ng, to complete the Pre-Verification Claims Form by clicking on the Search Bar, and typing Pre-Verification Claims Form; opening the Form and filling in their details. They can also do so by clicking the link: https://ndic.gov.ng/ndic-pre-verification-claims-form/ or by visiting any of the NDIC offices closest to them to file their claims.
For further enquiries, the corporation can be reached on any of the following lines: 09037273810, 09038197064, 08104220807, 09064657140.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigeria’s Bank Verification Number (BVN) enrolment has slowed significantly in 2026 following the introduction of a stricter regulatory framework by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), with the latest data from the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) showing that registrations are on course to fall well below last year’s record.
The BVN database stood at 69.55 million as of July 5, 2026, up from 69.32 million in June, indicating that only 228,947 new registrations were recorded over the period. Since the end of 2025, when the database stood at 67.8 million, total enrolments have increased by 1.75 million.
At the current pace, however, BVN registrations are unlikely to match the 4.3 million new enrolments recorded in 2025, suggesting a sharp deceleration in growth this year.
The slowdown comes after the CBN introduced a revised BVN regulatory framework in March, with the new rules taking effect on May 1, 2026. The framework tightened controls around enrolment, identity verification and fraud monitoring as part of efforts to strengthen the integrity of the banking system.
Among the key changes was the introduction of a minimum enrolment age of 18 years, effectively preventing minors from registering for a BVN.
The new framework also limits customers to a one-time change of the phone number linked to their BVN and requires financial institutions to place BVNs linked to suspected fraudulent transactions on a temporary watch-list for up to 24 hours while investigations are carried out.
The stricter rules contrast with last year’s surge in registrations, which was largely driven by the introduction of the Non-Resident Bank Verification Number (NRBVN) initiative that enabled Nigerians in the diaspora to complete BVN enrolment remotely, removing physical barriers and expanding access to the financial system.
Launched on February 14, 2014, the BVN scheme was introduced by the CBN in collaboration with the Bankers’ Committee, NIBSS and German technology firm Dermalog to assign every bank customer a unique biometric identity that can be verified across Nigeria’s banking industry.
