Linking your National Identification Number (NIN) to your Bank Verification Number (BVN) has become crucial for continued access to your bank account. Here’s a guide on how to link NIN or BVN to First Bank, Fidelity Bank, Opay & other banks and fintech companies in Nigeria.

How to link NIN/BVN to First Bank account

Here’s how to link your NIN to your First Bank account: 

• Log in to FirstBank’s internet banking platform https://www.firstbanknigeria.com/personal/ways-to-bank/online-banking/ 

• Navigate to the “Update NIN/BVN” section below the page and click.

• Proceed by entering your First Bank account.

• Enter your required details.

• You may also need to verify your information using a One-Time Password (OTP) sent to your registered phone number.

• Follow any additional instructions provided by FirstBank and in no time, your BVN or NIN will be linked.

How to link NIN/BVN to Fidelity Bank account 

Here’s how to link your NIN to your Fidelity Bank account:

• Visit Fidelity Bank’s website (https://online.fidelitybank.ng/) and log in to your internet banking account.
• Click on “Manage My Account” and select “BVN/NIN Linkage.” or 
• Input your BVN and NIN information.
• An OTP should be sent to your phone for verification. Enter the code and submit.

Fidelity Bank may require you to answer some security questions for verification purposes.

Meanwhile, you can also read how to link NIN to other major banks like Access Bank, Zenith Bank, GTBank etc here. Most major banks in Nigeria follow similar procedures. Log in to your bank’s internet banking platform and search for a “BVN/NIN Linkage” or “KYC Update” section.

Fintech Banks

Linking NIN or BVN for fintech banks might differ slightly from when you try to link with major banks like First Bank. It’s advisable to check their specific instructions on their website or mobile app. Here are some general guidelines:

Opay

• Open the Opay app and navigate to “Account Limits.”
• Click on “Upgrade to Tier 2 Account” and follow the prompts to link your NIN.

• Others:
• For other fintech banks like Alat by Wema, Kuda Bank etc., visit their website or app and search for dedicated sections for NIN/BVN linkage. Follow the provided instructions.

General Tips:

• Ensure you have a stable internet connection before starting the linking process.
• Have your BVN and NIN details readily available.
• Keep your registered phone number active to receive verification OTPs.
• If you encounter any difficulties, contact your bank’s customer support for assistance.
• If you receive a NIN linking error due to unverifiable details, you may need to visit a NIN physical centre to lodge a complaint.

Final thoughts

This guide provides a general overview of linking your NIN to your banks. Specific steps might vary or change depending on your bank or fintech platform. It’s always best to refer to their official website or app for the most up-to-date instructions. Cheers. 

Last week, Worldcoin, a blockchain company founded in 2019 by Open AI chief, Sam Altman, Max Novendstern, and Alex Blania, launched their iris-scan-for-token orbs globally, after trial runs in Indonesia, Chile, Kenya and 24 other countries. On Wednesday, July 26, two days after the global public launch, Altman tweeted that one person was being “verified” every 8 seconds.

Kenyan crypto firms latch on

After registering and scanning their irises, participants are given 25 Worldcoin tokens. But to convert that token to cash, they have to sell the tokens for USDT (a virtual US dollar) on a crypto exchange that lists Worldcoin’s virtual currency. They can then resell USDT for local currency.

By the end of the first day of launch, each Worldcoin token was worth $2.1 or 299 Kenyan Shillions. Every person who scans their iris on Worldcoin’s shiny orbs gets 25 Worldcoin tokens (or WLD) which is worth an estimated KES7,700 or roughly $54. Data from Take Profit, a data analytics provider puts the average monthly pay of low-wage earners in Kenya at around KES15,000 monthly before tax.

Enterprising crypto firms in Kenya have taken advantage of the crowds being attracted to Worldcoin’s orbs to recruit customers. On Sunday, KotaniPay, a local crypto company tweeted a video inviting people who had scanned their irises at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre to visit their booth to exchange WLD for Kenyan Shillings.

Charles Nichols, founder and CEO of Nuzo, a crypto payments company which also sells everyday food items like maize flour and smartphones and TVs invited people who had registered and scanned their irises at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre to swap WLD tokens for NuzoCoins and discounted maize flour.

Nuzo is offering up to 375 Kenyan shillings per WLD token, or 9,375 Kenyan Shillings.

Kenya’s data protection agency, the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) released a statement on Friday warning Kenyans about scanning their irises in exchange for crypto tokens. “Individuals are advised to thoroughly inquire about how their data will be used,” the statement read in part.

But digital policy analysts have criticised the statement and the agency for not being forceful enough. Before last week’s global launch, Worldcoin had been advertising in several malls in Nairobi throughout much of 2022 where it enlisted the help of young unemployed Kenyans and students to recruit participants for its beta launch. A source close to Kenya’s crypto industry says the firm may have obtained licences from the data protection agency before the launch.

Despite the statement from the data protection office, Kenyans continue to throng Worldcoin orb locations in the hopes of free cash. Altman who also leads Open AI, the artificial intelligence company that launched in December 2022 says Worldcoin is necessary to distinguish between humans and artificial intelligence, distribute universal basic income and as KYC to access formal financial services. Neither he nor Worldcoin has explained what it plans to do after collecting iris scans. But the project has come under criticism and is being investigated in several countries, including the United Kingdom and France.