Have you ever forgotten to pay for electricity, internet, cable TV or another recurring bill until the reminder message arrived or your service was disconnected?

You're not alone. When you're juggling work, business expenses and personal responsibilities, remembering every payment deadline can be difficult.

One way to make bill management easier is to automate payments through your banking app or the service provider's payment platform.

Depending on your bank and the type of bill, you may be able to schedule recurring transfers, create a standing order or set up automatic payments directly with a service provider.

The important thing to know is that not every banking app supports automatic payments for every bill. Some allow scheduled transfers, while others require you to pay manually each month.

Here's how to set up the right option safely.

1. Understand the Difference Between Automatic Payments and Scheduled Transfers

Before you begin, identify which payment method your bank or provider supports.

Recurring payment

A payment is collected automatically at agreed intervals, where supported. This may be arranged through a service provider or payment platform.

Scheduled transfer or standing order

You instruct your bank to send a set amount on a particular date or at regular intervals. Availability and options depend on your bank.

Bill payment

You pay a specific bill, such as electricity, airtime, data or cable TV. Many banking apps support these payments, but some require you to initiate each transaction manually.

For example, paying your electricity bill every month is not necessarily the same as authorising an automatic monthly debit. Check what your bank actually offers before assuming the payment will repeat.

2. Step-by-Step: How to Set Up a Recurring Payment

The exact menu names differ between banks, but the process usually follows these steps.

Step 1: Open your official banking app

Log in using your usual secure method. Never follow a payment setup link sent by an unknown person.

Step 2: Find the scheduling feature

Look for options such as Scheduled Payments, Standing Orders, Recurring Transfers or Standing Instructions. If you cannot find them, check your bank's official help centre.

Step 3: Choose the payment type

Select a transfer to a beneficiary, a bill payment or another supported scheduled transaction. If your biller is not listed, check whether the service provider offers recurring payment directly.

Step 4: Enter the payment details

Select the account to debit, beneficiary or biller, recipient details, amount and payment reference. Verify every detail before proceeding.

Step 5: Set the schedule

Choose the start date, frequency and end date or number of payments if the app asks for them. For a monthly bill, select the appropriate monthly schedule and allow time for processing before the actual due date.

Step 6: Review and authorise

Confirm the amount, recipient, frequency and dates. Complete the bank's required authentication, such as an in-app approval, PIN, token or OTP.

Step 7: Confirm that it is active

Look for a success message or check your scheduled payments list. Keep the confirmation and monitor the first payment to ensure it goes through.

These steps are based on documented features offered by some Nigerian banking services. For example, Stanbic IBTC documents recurring transfers through its mobile app, while Union Bank describes standing orders for both transfers and selected bill payments. Features vary by provider.

3. What If Your Banking App Doesn't Support Automatic Bill Payments?

You still have options.

  • Use a supported biller's payment service: Check whether your internet, cable TV, utility or subscription provider offers automatic payments.

  • Set a recurring transfer: If the bill is a fixed amount owed to a person or business, a standing order may work, provided the recipient accepts that payment method.

  • Schedule reminders: Set a calendar alert several days before the due date, then pay manually through your bank's official app.

  • Use a bill-payment platform: Check its fees, security measures, recurring-payment options and refund process before linking an account or card.

Don't confuse a saved beneficiary or payment template with an automatic payment. Saving details can make repeat payments faster, but you may still have to approve each transaction yourself.

4. How Much Money Should You Keep in Your Account?

Automatic payments can fail if there isn't enough money available when the transaction is due.

A practical approach is to keep enough funds for the scheduled bill plus any applicable fees, and consider maintaining a small buffer for essential recurring expenses.

For example, if your monthly internet subscription costs ₦15,000, you could plan to have at least that amount available before the scheduled date, plus a buffer for other upcoming debits. This is a budgeting example, not a recommendation to keep more money in a particular account than you need.

Also check whether your bank or payment provider retries failed transactions, charges a fee, or requires you to make the payment manually.

5. How to Avoid Mistakes With Automatic Payments

Before relying on recurring payments, remember these precautions:

  • Use the correct due date. Schedule payment early enough to account for weekends, public holidays and processing delays.

  • Check variable bills. Electricity usage, data plans and other charges may change, so a fixed transfer might not cover the full amount.

  • Watch for duplicate payments. If you have an automatic instruction active, avoid paying the same bill manually without checking its status.

  • Review your payment history. Check statements and notifications to confirm that scheduled payments succeed.

  • Cancel instructions you no longer need. Stopping a subscription and cancelling a bank standing order may be two separate steps.

  • Protect your account. Never disclose your PIN, password or OTP to anyone claiming to set up automatic payments for you.

Final Thoughts

Automatic bill payments can help you stay organised, reduce the chance of missing a due date and spend less time repeating routine transactions.

But automation works best when you understand what your bank supports, maintain enough funds and monitor payment confirmations. Set it up once, verify that it works, and review it regularly.