Unity Bank Introduces USSD in Nigerian Languages

Unity Bank Plc unveils it's Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) banking in Nigeria’s three major languages Yoruba, Hausa, and Igbo.

In a statement, the bank said; “The introduction of Nigerian languages is an added feature to the Unity Bank’s USSD Platform and by dialing the Short Code: *7799# on any mobile phones, Unity Bank’s customers will now have the option to continue their transactions in any of their preferred languages.

“The upgrade in the features of the transaction the platform is part of Unity Bank’s initiatives aimed at achieving an optimal level of interaction on the USSD banking channel.

“It is targeted at market segments at the lower level of the pyramid intended to drive greater financial inclusion in the country as well as deploy more solutions for fast, efficient and convenient banking, whilst targeting the underbanked”.

Commenting on the initiative, the Group Head, Retail, SME & E-Business, Unity Bank Plc, Olufunwa Olugbenga Akinmade said the local language USSD will boost existing e-payment channels and deepen mobile payment.

Akinmade said  “What we have done is to expand the channel of access to our offerings. Nigeria’s teledensity, according to the Nigeria Communications Commission, NCC, is at 91.1% as of 2019.

"This means that a solution like this will resonate with millions of Nigerians who are more comfortable transacting in their local languages,” he said.

He added: “This solution has now added to the bouquet of mobile solutions the bank has introduced recently to cater to the youth, mass market and MSMEs as we move to promote retail and SME business by enhancing mobile payment solutions to meet the needs of our customers.”