Note: The features discussed in this guide are only available in Live Mode (Production).

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) mandates that every virtual (reserved) account issued to a customer must be linked to valid identifiers: BVN (Bank Verification Number), NIN (National Identification Number) or both.

This guide explains what these identifiers are, how to collect them, and recommended workflows for your user experience.

Understanding the Identifiers

1. BVN: An 11-digit number that uniquely identifies an account holder across all banks in Nigeria. Customers can retrieve their BVN by dialing *565*0# on their BVN-registered phone number.
2. NIN: An 11-digit identifier issued by the NIMC (National Identity Management Commission). Customers can retrieve their NIN by dialing *Dial 346# or visit an NIMC enrollment center to get one.

Recommended Workflows

To gather these details securely, here are two recommended workflows:

Workflow 1: Onboarding NEW Customers

Build BVN/NIN collection directly into your signup flow.

1. Add a step in your signup process asking the customer to input their BVN or NIN.
2. Verify the provided BVN or NIN using a verification service (such as Monnify's Verification APIs) before proceeding.
3. Once verified, create the account by sending an account creation request to the Monnify API. Ensure you include the captured BVN and/or NIN in the request.
4. After verifying the information, Monnify will generate the applicable virtual account for you to display to the user.

Workflow 2: Updating Details for EXISTING Customers

If you have existing customers who generated virtual accounts before this mandate, you have to update their profiles:

1. Implement a notification bar or pop-up on your app or website prompting the user to update their KYC Information.
2. Ask them to input their BVN and/or NIN, and verify the details using a verification service, such as Monnify's Verification APIs.
3. Send a request to Monnify for account details update.
4. Monnify will update the customer's profile. Once you get a successful response from Monnify, display a success message so the customer knows their account is secure.

Note: For the exact endpoints, parameters, and payloads required for this feature, see the Monnify BVN/NIN Verification Documentation.

Applicable Fees

1. Linking is FREE: Monnify does not charge you any fees for creating reserved accounts or updating existing accounts with a BVN or NIN.
2. Verification Costs: However, if you choose to use Monnify's API to verify the BVN or NIN before linking it, standard API verification fees will apply (e.g., ₦10 for every successful BVN Match, ₦60 for every successful NIN verification). If you use a different verification service, it may attract fees but these are not charged by Monnify.