Bank Guide
First Bank of Nigeria (*894#) betting deposits
How Nigerian bettors deposit and withdraw using First Bank: USSD, internet banking, and virtual account methods, tested and explained.
Depositing at a Nigerian sportsbook using First Bank
- Dial *894#
From your First Bank registered phone number. If your number is not registered, dial *894*000# to initiate mobile banking enrollment. - Select 'Transfer Money'
Option varies by menu version but is consistently in the first four options. First Bank's USSD menu is text-heavy; read carefully. - Choose 'To Other Bank'
Select this option to send to the virtual account from the sportsbook cashier. - Enter recipient account and bank
First Bank USSD may ask you to select the recipient bank from a list. The operator's virtual account usually sits with GTBank, Access, or a fintech partner. If unsure, check the cashier page. - Enter amount and confirm PIN
Your First Bank USSD PIN. First Bank transactions average 8-12 seconds to process. - Await confirmation
First Bank sends a debit SMS. Sportsbook credit follows within 30-60 seconds.
Troubleshooting: common problems with First Bank
- First Bank's USSD is slower than the other four in this guide. If you need instant-credit for a live match, use OPay or GTBank instead and fall back to First Bank USSD for pre-match.
- First Bank's menu asks for the recipient bank explicitly on the transfer path. Most sportsbook virtual accounts are hosted at GTBank or Access. If you are unsure, call the sportsbook's live chat and ask.
- Withdrawal times to First Bank are the longest in our test set. For time-sensitive withdrawals, consider adding an OPay or PalmPay account as a faster alternative.
- If *894# shows 'Service unavailable', First Bank typically has a 2am to 5am maintenance window. Retry after 5am WAT.
Withdrawal using First Bank
First Bank is one of Nigeria's oldest and most trusted institutions, and its USSD is solid if not the fastest. The one genuine complaint from our readers is withdrawal time: First Bank takes longer to credit inbound transfers from sportsbooks than the other four. My advice is to use First Bank for deposits where speed is not critical, and use OPay for your fastest withdrawal rail. First Bank's trust record is impeccable though, and for Nigerian bettors who want their withdrawal arriving in the most recognisable name on the statement, it is a valid choice.
USSD code quick reference
| Bank | USSD Code | Transfer action |
|---|---|---|
| First Bank | *894# | Dial, select Transfer, follow prompts |