Latest news with #USSD
Hindustan Times
12-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
No data? Here's how to make UPI payments without an internet connection
Digital payments have become a common part of daily life in India. The Unified Payment Interface (UPI), launched by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) in 2016, allows users to transfer money quickly and directly between bank accounts using their smartphones. However, these transactions typically require an internet connection. What can users do when the internet is not available? While most UPI transactions require an internet connection, users can still send payments even when offline. This feature comes in handy in areas with poor or no internet access. Here is how you can make UPI payments without an internet connection. Also read: How to quietly limit someone on Instagram without blocking, unfollowing, or causing drama To begin, dial *99# from your registered mobile number. This initiates a USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) session, a communication protocol used in mobile networks to send and receive text messages without the internet. This service, introduced by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), allows users to perform essential banking functions such as sending money, checking balances, and managing UPI accounts. After dialling, you will see a prompt to select your preferred language from a list of 13 options, including Hindi and English. Next, enter the IFSC code of your bank to proceed. Since the service recognises the accounts linked to your phone number, it will display all registered bank accounts for you to choose from. Select the account you wish to use by entering the corresponding option number. Also read: How to easily compress data on your iPad to save storage space To verify your identity, you will need to enter the last six digits of your debit card number along with its expiry date. This step confirms that you are authorised to use the selected bank account for transactions. Finally, input your UPI PIN to complete the offline transaction. This PIN acts as a security measure to authenticate your payment. Once the process is complete, the payment will be processed without requiring an internet connection. Also read: Snap to launch smart glasses for users in 2026 in challenge to Meta If you want to disable the offline UPI service later, simply dial *99# again and follow the prompts to turn off this feature. short, USSD works through GSM mobile networks to send and receive simple text messages for basic mobile banking and other services. This method offers a convenient way to stay connected to your bank when internet access is unavailable.
The Citizen
11-06-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
New platform Spaan opens new path for South African job seekers
With over 100 000 users in two months, Spaan is revolutionising job hunting in SA by providing verified, shareable profiles for job seekers. Founder and CEO of Spaan Afika Nontso with broadcaster Anele Mdoda at the media launch in Rosebank, Johannesburg on 10 June 2025. Picture: Nigel Sibanda Amid an above-30% youth unemployment crisis in South Africa, Spaan, the country's first verification-led employment platform, was yesterday officially launched in Johannesburg. Founder Afika Nontso said the platform was 'built to restore trust, dignity, expand access and connect job seekers to real opportunities'. Bridging the gap between tech and accessibility A SAP software product consultant and entrepreneur, Nontso has spent years working on innovative solutions that bridge the gap between technology and accessibility. With extensive experience in USSD, a communications protocol used by GSM cellphone projects, employment solutions and a 'passion for empowering underserved communities', Nontso said he has 'learnt how technology can give people access to jobs'. 'Within two months of being established, our registration has totalled 100 000. This is when I realised that a number of people are out there hungry for job opportunities. 'Verification, inclusivity and accessibility' 'Verification, inclusivity and accessibility is at the core of the platform,' said Nontso. ALSO READ: Ramaphosa urges employers to give BEEI youths their 'next opportunity' At the heart of the Spaan report is a shareable, verified profile, confirming a candidate's personal details, identity and qualifications. Spaan chief marketing officer Tlali Taoana said the platform was designed to 'reduce friction in hiring – helping employers access credible, pre-vetted talent, while giving job-seekers a fair and trusted way to stand out and prove they are ready to work'. Designed for all job markets Taoana said Spaan was inclusive by design, working across devices and accessible via mobile, USSD and WhatsApp. 'Whether you are a domestic worker in Soweto, a technician in Polokwane or a graduate in Cape Town, Spaan empowers you to show up with proof and be recognised in both the informal and formal job market. 'Through targeted national campaigns in townships, universities, informal markets and small, medium and micro enterprise networks, Spaan is already activating across the country connecting freelancers, tradespeople and professionals to meaningful employment.' For employers, Spaan simplifies recruitment, said Taoana. NOW READ: The dark picture of youth unemployment in South Africa
Zawya
02-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Nigerians react to new N6 SMS transaction fee amid growing discontent over banking charges
NIGERIAN bank customers have expressed widespread dissatisfaction following the introduction of a new N6 fee for each SMS transaction alert, a policy jointly implemented by the banking sector regulator and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). The revised fee, up from the previous N4 per SMS, took effect today and is expected to be automatically deducted from customers' bank accounts. According to Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the new structure was designed to replace the previous per-session USSD billing model and standardize charges across banks. The fee will be remitted to mobile network operators, with the apex bank stating that this change offers a more transparent and consumer-friendly billing framework. For numerous customers, especially low-income earners who rely heavily on USSD services for day-to-day transactions, the added cost is yet another financial burden. Critics argued that the move is not only ill-timed but could further alienate the unbanked population, undermining CBN's long-standing financial inclusion goals. 'This policy is out of touch with the reality of ordinary Nigerians,' said Mr. Yusuf Adebayo, a civil servant. 'Instead of encouraging people to embrace banking, it discourages them. A low-income earner making frequent transactions will feel the pinch of this fee over time.' Banks like GTBank and Fidelity Bank have encouraged customers to adopt their mobile banking apps, which do not incur SMS or USSD charges. Yet, some customers remained skeptical. One customer, who spoke anonymously, alleged that banks have been charging multiple telco fees for single transactions long before this policy was formalised. 'There are days when I get charged more than once for a single transaction,' the customer said. 'It feels like we're being bled dry from every angle.' On social media, Nigerians have taken to platforms like X (formerly Twitter) to express their frustrations and divergent opinions. One user, Arch Angel Jesse, downplayed the fee hike, suggesting the public outcry was misplaced. 'I don't think this is a problem the way the news is making it seem. Only N2 extra and it's breaking news!' Jesse posted. 'All the money lost in NNPC is still not making the news but N2 extra is breaking!!! Very few people understand where I am coming from, and that is still the problem of this country Nigeria.' However, another user, @asia_valking, offered a different perspective. 'N2 is not a problem? It will be when you receive alerts from 20 different transactions, or you multiply it by 50 million accounts. Their next target will be N10.' Joshua Eze, another customer, drew a comparison with telecom practices in the United Kingdom. 'In the UK, once you pay for your internet data, calls and SMS are essentially free. Think of providers with their flexible plans and no extra charges for calls or texts. Meanwhile, Nigerian business leaders keep adding burdens like this N6 SMS fee, doing more harm than good to citizens already struggling,' he said. Hyginus Ogbuike, a resident in Lagos, blamed both the government and its corporate allies for continually making life more difficult for Nigerians. 'It started long ago. If they can increase salaries by 100 percent across all levels, it will be tolerable,' he said. Several analysts have also weighed in on the debate, accusing banks of deliberately withholding in-app transaction alerts to force customers into accepting SMS-based notifications that incur charges. 'Normally, your mobile banking app should notify you of every transaction,' said one tech analyst based in Lagos. 'But Nigerian banks have intentionally left out that feature. Even when you go to the bank to cancel SMS alerts, they ask you to fill a form, and in many cases, the alerts still don't stop.' An anonymous top-level banker explained that the policy is backed by the CBN's Guide to Charges by Banks and Other Financial Institutions, which mandates SMS alerts as a safeguard against fraud. 'Banks are required to send SMS alerts on every account activity. It's not optional unless the customer formally opts out, and even that comes with legal risk.'
The Citizen
30-04-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Citizen
FNB nav» uses gamification to reward and improve money management habits among South Africans
The use of gamification is key to influencing behavioural change in the financial services industry. The most critical tasks and habits for better life outcomes are often the most difficult to implement. In fact, the world's largest online behavioural science destination, Psychology Today, outlines that bad habits are easy and good habits are hard. This reality extends across all parts of the human experience, from forming habits and rituals that cultivate a healthy lifestyle to those that ensure healthy personal finance and money management. Fortunately, global experts like game designer Nick Pelling, who was once tasked with developing game-like interfaces for ATMs and vending machines, developed the theory of 'gamification' after realising that game mechanics and concepts could be applied to non-gaming contexts. 'The use of gamification is key to influencing behavioural change in the financial services industry, where good habits can mean the difference between a healthy, secure bank balance and serious financial troubles. As we seek to provide meaningful help in the day-to-day lives of our customers at FNB, we combine integrated advice, technology and gamification to help them manage their money more effectively,' says Jolandé Duvenage, FNB's Chief Imagineer for nav». Milestone for FNB's nav» platform Incidentally, FNB recently announced a major milestone for its flagship nav» platform. Housed within its banking app and with USSD integration, the bank announced that 5 million customers now use its nav» Money tool, empowering millions of users with smart resources for personal finance management like budgeting. 'As we celebrate this milestone, we're also excited to give back to our customers by adding value to their lives beyond banking and rewarding their loyalty,' says Duvenage, adding that the success of nav» is also the success of the bank's customers. To mark the celebration of this milestone, FNB has designed a nav» Gamification Campaign geared towards encouraging customers to explore the nav» hub, take advantage of its powerful tools, and enter a competition for a chance to win amazing prizes, including: Mission 1: Win 1 of 10 PlayStation 5 Slimline consoles + 20 x R2000 KFC vouchers Mission 2: Win 1 of 10 iPhone 16 Pros + 20 x R2000 Nike vouchers Mission 3: Win the Haval H6 GT + 5 x fuel for a year in eBucks valued at R60 000 each 'The campaign went live on the FNB & RMB Private Bank App on 10 March — and we're already seeing some amazing engagement on social media. And it's more than just a competition, it's a chance to engage customers through exciting missions and tasks while, most importantly, improving their money management skills,' adds Duvenage. How to boost campaign entries The campaign, ending on 9 June 2025, has three missions allowing multiple entries per person – meaning better chances to win. Customers can boost their entries by: Completing app tasks on nav» (1 entry each) Finding and sharing the special competition badges on social media using the hashtag #FNBnavLife (100 entries each) Clicking and viewing offers in nav» (100 entries each) Switching their cheque account and transacting (100 entries each) To start playing, users can simply log on to the FNB Banking app, go to the nav» tab and follow the prompts. 'The success of FNB's nav» tool reflects the bank's commitment to delivering true help to our customers' lives in an innovative way that can really make a difference. And, as the platform continues to evolve, FNB remains focused on leveraging technology to create solutions that address the evolving challenges that South Africans continue to face – from financial inclusion to sustainability,' concludes Duvenage.
TimesLIVE
22-04-2025
- Business
- TimesLIVE
Game on: explore FNB's powerful nav» tools and stand a chance to win
'The use of gamification is key to influencing behavioural change in the financial services industry, where good habits can mean the difference between a healthy, secure bank balance and serious financial troubles. As we seek to provide meaningful help in the day-to-day lives of our customers at FNB, we combine integrated advice, technology and gamification to help them manage their money more effectively,' says Jolandé Duvenage, FNB's chief imagineer for its flagship nav» platform, which is housed within the FNB Banking app and features USSD integration. The nav» platform includes 'innovative digital tools that are designed to simplify life for FNB's customers and help them make smart financial decisions for themselves and their businesses'. FNB recently announced that 5-million customers now use its nav» Money tool — a major milestone that sees the bank empowering millions of users with smart resources for personal finance management like budgeting. 'As we celebrate this milestone, we're also excited to give back to our customers by adding value to their lives beyond banking and rewarding their loyalty,' says Duvenage, adding that the success of nav» is also the success of the bank's customers. That's why FNB has designed a nav» gamification campaign geared towards encouraging customers to explore the nav» platform, take advantage of its powerful tools, and enter a competition where they can complete missions to stand a chance to win amazing prizes. This includes: Mission 1: Win 1 of 10 PlayStation 5 Slimline consoles plus 20 x R2,000 KFC vouchers; Mission 2: Win 1 of 10 iPhone 16 Pros plus 20 x R2,000 Nike vouchers; and Mission 3: Win a Haval H6 GT plus 5 x prizes of fuel for a year in eBucks valued at R60,000 each. 'The campaign went live on the FNB and RMB Private Bank App on March 10 — and we're already seeing some amazing engagement on social media. And it's more than just a competition; it's a chance to engage customers through exciting missions and tasks while, most importantly, improving their money management skills,' says Duvenage. The campaign, ending on June 9 2025, has three missions allowing multiple entries per person — meaning better chances to win. Customers can also boost their entries by: To start playing, users can simply log on to the FNB Banking app, go to the nav» tab and follow the prompts. 'The success of FNB's nav» tool reflects the bank's commitment to delivering true help to our customers' lives in an innovative way that can really make a difference. And, as the platform continues to evolve, FNB remains focused on leveraging technology to create solutions that address the evolving challenges that South Africans continue to face — from financial inclusion to sustainability,' says Duvenage.
