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United Bank for Africa (UBA) has announced a major change in the way customers are billed for Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) banking services, in compliance with a new directive from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
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Starting June 3, 2025, UBA will implement the NCC’s End-User Billing (EUB) model, which mandates that USSD transaction charges be deducted directly from customers’ mobile airtime balances, rather than their bank accounts.
This update was shared with customers through a notice titled “New NCC-Mandated USSD Billing Process”, reinforcing the bank’s commitment to regulatory compliance and transparent digital service delivery.
Under the new model, each USSD session will cost ₦6.98 per 120 seconds. Customers initiating a USSD transaction will first receive a consent prompt, and airtime deductions will only occur upon confirmation and when the bank is available to deliver the requested service.
“This change ensures compliance with NCC regulations and enhances transparency in how USSD services are billed,” UBA stated.
UBA advised customers who may prefer not to use airtime for banking transactions to consider alternative digital channels, including the UBA mobile banking app and UBA internet banking platform, for a more seamless and cost-effective experience.
The new billing structure is part of broader industry reforms aimed at resolving longstanding disputes over USSD charges and enhancing user control over financial service costs across mobile networks.
