Still have an old phone number linked to your BVN?

Maybe you stopped using the SIM years ago.

Maybe the number was lost.

Maybe you changed networks or got a new phone number.

Or perhaps the number belongs to someone else because you originally registered your account with a borrowed line.

Whatever the reason, leaving an old number connected to your banking identity can create security and account-access problems.

But there is an important change Nigerian bank customers need to know about in 2026:

You can no longer change the phone number linked to your BVN whenever you want.

Under a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) amendment that took effect on May 1, 2026, amendments to the phone number linked to a BVN are allowed only once.

That means you should treat your one permitted change carefully.

First: BVN phone number vs bank-account phone number

These are related, but they are not necessarily the same thing.

Your bank may have a phone number in your customer/account profile, while a phone number is also associated with your BVN record.

Changing the phone number on your bank account does not automatically mean the phone number on your BVN has been changed.

So if your goal is to clean up an old number connected to your BVN, tell the bank specifically:

“I want to update the phone number linked to my BVN.”

Don't simply ask for a change to your account contact details.

Why should you remove an old number?

Your registered phone number can be important for:

  • Transaction alerts

  • OTPs and authentication

  • Account recovery

  • Banking notifications

  • Identity verification

NIBSS describes BVN as a core identity system for Nigeria's banking industry, while the CBN's new restriction is intended in part to reduce fraud risks associated with changing BVN-linked phone numbers.

If you no longer control the old number, you don't want important banking communications continuing to depend on it.

Step 1: Find Out Which Number Your Bank Has

Before changing anything, check your banking profile.

Depending on your bank, you may be able to see your registered phone number through:

  • Mobile banking app

  • Internet banking

  • Customer-service channel

  • Branch

However, don't assume that the number shown in your banking app is necessarily the number attached to your BVN.

If you're unsure, contact your bank and ask them to confirm the phone number linked to your BVN.

Step 2: Make Sure Your New Number Is Secure

Because of the new one-time restriction, don't replace your old number with another temporary number.

Choose a number that:

  • You personally own

  • You actively use

  • You intend to keep long term

  • You can protect with a SIM PIN where available

  • You can recover if your phone is lost

  • Is registered in your name where required

Think carefully before using a friend's, partner's or relative's number.

Don't use a number simply because it's convenient today.

You may have to live with the choice for a long time.

Step 3: Contact Your Bank

The safest starting point is the bank where you maintain your account.

Tell the bank:

“I need to update the phone number linked to my BVN because I no longer use the old number.”

The bank will tell you the current procedure and verification requirements.

Don't rely on a random TikTok or WhatsApp post claiming that a particular USSD code can change your BVN phone number.

The procedure can vary by institution.

And because the CBN's one-time restriction applies at the BVN level, you should confirm exactly what the bank is changing before authorising the request.

Step 4: Be Prepared for Identity Verification

Because you're changing a sensitive banking identity record, the bank may require additional verification.

Depending on the institution and your circumstances, you may be asked for things such as:

  • Valid identification

  • BVN

  • Account information

  • New phone number

  • Biometric verification

  • Other KYC information

Follow the bank's official instructions.

Never give your banking password or OTP to an unofficial “agent” offering to update your BVN.

If someone contacts you on WhatsApp or social media claiming:

“Send me your BVN and OTP and I'll change your number”

stop communicating with them.

Go directly to your bank.

Step 5: If You Lost the Old SIM, Say So

You don't necessarily need to pretend the number is still active.

If the SIM was:

  • Lost

  • Stolen

  • Damaged

  • Deactivated

  • Taken over by another person

tell your bank exactly what happened.

The bank may have additional verification procedures for customers who no longer have access to the old number.

If the SIM was stolen, act quickly.

Contact your mobile network provider about securing or replacing the SIM where possible, and contact your bank if you suspect anyone could access your banking information.

Step 6: Remember the One-Time BVN Rule

This is the most important part of the process.

From May 1, 2026, the CBN allows amendments to the phone number linked to a BVN only once.

So don't treat this like changing your WhatsApp number.

If you change:

Old number → New number

you should assume that your one permitted BVN phone-number amendment has been used.

Before confirming the change, double-check:

Is this definitely my number?

Is the SIM active?

Is it registered to me?

Will I still be using it several years from now?

Can I recover the number if my phone is lost?

If the answer is no, reconsider before proceeding.

Step 7: Check Your Other Bank Accounts

Your BVN is used across your banking relationships.

So if you have accounts with:

  • Access Bank

  • GTBank

  • FirstBank

  • UBA

  • Zenith

  • Stanbic IBTC

  • Fidelity

  • FCMB

  • Opay

  • Other BVN-linked financial institutions

don't assume you need to change the BVN separately at every bank.

The BVN is a central banking identity.

However, your individual bank-account contact details may still need to be updated separately.

After changing your BVN-linked number, check your major bank accounts and make sure their customer records also contain the number you actually use.

Step 8: Update the Number on Your Bank Accounts Too

This is an important second step.

Suppose your BVN now has:

080X XXX XXXX

but your bank account profile still has:

081X XXX XXXX

You could end up with inconsistent contact information.

Ask each bank where you have an account whether your registered account phone number also needs to be updated.

This is especially important if you have multiple accounts.

Your goal should be:

BVN number → Current secure number

Bank account profiles → Current secure number

Banking apps → Current secure device/number

Mobile network → Number registered to you

Step 9: Check Your Banking Alerts

After the change has been processed, monitor your accounts.

Look for:

  • Transaction alerts

  • Login alerts

  • OTP messages

  • Account notifications

  • Unexpected password-reset messages

If you notice anything suspicious, contact your bank immediately.

Don't wait until money disappears before reporting a security problem.

What If the Bank Says You've Already Used Your One Change?

This is where you should not attempt to use another person's information or create another BVN.

Ask the bank:

“Please confirm whether the BVN-linked phone-number amendment has already been used on my BVN, and what official process is available for my situation.”

The CBN rule establishes the one-time limit, so a bank should be able to explain the status of your request and the applicable procedure.

If you believe the bank has incorrectly handled your request, make a formal complaint through the bank's complaints channel.

If the complaint remains unresolved, you can escalate a financial-institution complaint to the CBN through its consumer-protection process.

What If the Old Number Belongs to Someone Else Now?

This is particularly important.

Mobile numbers can eventually be reassigned by telecom operators.

If you no longer use an old number and someone else eventually gets it, you don't want that number to remain the main contact point for your banking identity.

Don't wait until the number is reassigned.

If you still have access to the number and know that you won't keep using it, make the appropriate update through your bank.

If you've already lost access, contact the bank immediately and explain the situation.

Don't Confuse BVN With NIN

Your BVN and NIN are different identity systems.

BVN: Banking identity system operated within Nigeria's banking ecosystem.

NIN: National identity number issued by NIMC.

If your old number is also attached to your NIN, that is a separate issue.

NIMC says phone numbers are an updatable field in its NIN records. Its current self-service modification information provides a route for phone-number modification, while its adult-modification guidance lists phone number as an updatable field.

So if you're trying to clean up your digital identity completely, check both:

BVN

Contact your bank.

NIN

Use NIMC's official modification channels.

Don't assume changing one automatically changes the other.

What You Should Never Do

🚫 Don't pay a stranger to “unlink” your BVN number.

🚫 Don't share your BVN with random social-media accounts.

🚫 Don't send your OTP to anyone.

🚫 Don't share your banking PIN.

🚫 Don't give your internet-banking password to an agent.

🚫 Don't use another person's phone number as a permanent replacement.

🚫 Don't repeatedly submit change requests through unofficial websites.

NIBSS says access to BVN information is controlled and provides official customer support channels for BVN-related enquiries.

Quick Checklist

Before you change the number linked to your BVN:

☑️ Confirm you no longer use the old number.

☑️ Choose a secure number you personally control.

☑️ Confirm the new SIM is active.

☑️ Contact your bank through an official channel.

☑️ Specifically request a BVN-linked phone-number update.

☑️ Complete the bank's identity verification.

☑️ Remember that the CBN now permits only one BVN phone-number amendment.

☑️ Update your individual bank-account contact details if necessary.

☑️ Check whether your NIN also contains the old number.

☑️ Keep confirmation of the completed update.

The Bottom Line

If an old phone number is still connected to your BVN, don't ignore it.

But don't think of the process as simply “deleting” a phone number from your BVN.

Under the current CBN framework, the practical process is to replace the old BVN-linked number with a secure new one, and you have only one permitted amendment.

So choose the replacement carefully.

Your BVN-linked phone number should be one you control, trust and expect to keep for the long term.