Nigerian bank customers to pay N6 per SMS transaction alert from Thursday, May 1st

Bank customers in Nigeria will begin paying N6 for each SMS transaction alert starting Thursday, May 1, 2025, following an upward adjustment in telecommunications service rates recently approved by the federal government.

The new fee represents a 50 percent increase from the previous N4 charge per message and has been communicated by several commercial banks to their customers ahead of the implementation.

Guaranty Trust Bank Limited was among those that issued notices. In an email to customers titled “Increase in SMS Transaction Alert Fee,” the bank explained that the revision was necessitated by higher charges from telecommunications providers. “Dear Valued Customer, Please be informed that effective Thursday, May 1, 2025, the SMS transaction alert fee will increase from N4 to N6 per message. This adjustment is due to a recent increase in telecom rates as communicated by the telecommunication service providers,” the notice read.

The bank emphasized the importance of SMS alerts, stating they are essential tools for customers to monitor and maintain control over their account activities. It also noted that SMS alerts sent to international phone numbers would incur additional charges.

The increase in telecom rates and corresponding adjustment in SMS alert fees come amid broader concerns over rising costs of living and digital access in the country.

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