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Verified 12 September 2026

NCBA USSD code: *488#

By Arnold Ochieng · NCBA Bank Kenya hub · paybillke is an independent guide and is not affiliated with NCBA Bank Kenya.

The NCBA USSD code is *488#. It works on any phone, smart or not, with no internet connection. First time in, you set a four-digit PIN and security questions, and after that the menu covers most of what you would otherwise queue for.

Getting started

  1. Dial *488# from the phone number registered on your NCBA account.
  2. Enter your four-digit PIN to authenticate, or set one if this is your first time.
  3. Set your security questions and answers, which is the extra layer that stops someone who has your handset.
  4. Work through the menu.

What you can do on it

Accounts. Balance enquiry, mini-statement of recent transactions, and account settings.

Transfers. Between your own NCBA accounts, to other Kenyan banks by PesaLink or EFT, and to and from M-PESA.

Bills. Electricity and water, TV and internet subscriptions including DStv and Zuku, and insurance premiums.

Airtime. For yourself or for someone else, straight from the account.

Loans. Apply for a NOW Loan and receive it instantly, repay an active loan, and check your balance and eligibility.

Do not dial *654#. It is not NCBA any more

Half the pages on the web still list *654# as the NCBA code for former CBA customers. It is not. We dialled it on 12 September 2026 and it answers as Crown Paints, an entirely unrelated company. The code has been reassigned.

That matters more than an out-of-date phone number normally would. A USSD menu you did not expect is exactly the situation where people key in an account number or a PIN out of habit. If you dialled *654# looking for your bank, close the session and dial *488# instead.

NCBA's own Ways to Bank page documents only *488#, which is consistent with the old code having been given up.

Staying safe on USSD

NCBA will never ask for your PIN or a one-time code, and neither will anyone legitimately calling on its behalf. The session runs on the mobile network rather than the internet, so it is not phishable through a fake website, but it is only as safe as your handset and your PIN. If you lose the phone, call NCBA the same day. Our scam guide covers the social-engineering patterns that target bank customers in Kenya.

About this guide

Independent guide. paybillke is not NCBA Bank and has no commercial relationship with it. Paybill and USSD details were checked against NCBA's own site on 12 September 2026. Rates, fees and product terms change, so confirm anything you are about to act on with NCBA directly on ncbagroup.com/ke or 0800 720 444.

Frequently asked

What is the NCBA USSD code?

*488#. It works on any phone with no internet connection.

Is *654# still the NCBA code?

No. It has been reassigned. Dialled on 12 September 2026 it answers as Crown Paints, not a bank. Use *488# for NCBA.

Can I send money to M-PESA on *488#?

Yes. The menu carries mobile money transfers in both directions, plus PesaLink and EFT to other banks.

Can I get a loan on *488#?

Yes. The NOW Loan can be applied for, repaid and checked from the USSD menu.

Do I need a smartphone for NCBA mobile banking?

No. *488# is USSD and runs on any handset.