Banking and Finance

How to open a Smartcash Account in Nigeria

This is a simple step by step guide to register an Airtel's Smartcash account in Nigeria using your phone number.

How to open a Smartcash Account in Nigeria

Table of Contents SmartCash is a Payment Service Bank (PSB) launched by Airtel Africa to provide financial services to underbanked and unbanked populations in Nigeria. The Airtel's product is mobile-wallet operating under the license of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) via its Payment Service Bank arm. You can use it to send and receive money, buy airtime and data, pay bills, withdraw cash via agents. All these are for the purpose of bridging the financial divide in the country. In addition to the mobile wallet access via the Airtel's SmartCash app, the basic banking services can also be access via USSD. The main purpose of this article is to teach you how to open Airtel's SmartCash account in Nigeria. It has been observed that many under-banked demographics in Nigeria are older people in rural areas. These sets of people are mostly uneducated, and opening such a banking app—especially submitting their documents for KYC—can be complicated. How to open the account There are two…

About the author

Independent journalist covering tech, business, finance, and science | BSc Accounting student | He founded FinNG

Post a Comment

<script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.blogger.com/static/v1/widgets/1601900224-widgets.js"></script>
<script type='text/javascript'>
window['__wavt'] = 'AOuZoY5oNOQ0EVfjaSUlbtOLurjzYlYseA:1761910310012';_WidgetManager._Init('//www.blogger.com/rearrange?blogID\x3d583368488428019423','//www.finng.com.ng/2025/10/how-to-open-smartcash-account-in-nigeria.html?amp\x3d1','583368488428019423');
_WidgetManager._SetDataContext([{'name': 'blog', 'data': {'blogId': '583368488428019423', 'title': 'FinNG', 'url': 'https://www.finng.com.ng/2025/10/how-to-open-smartcash-account-in-nigeria.html?amp\x3d1', 'canonicalUrl': 'https://www.finng.com.ng/2025/10/how-to-open-smartcash-account-in-nigeria.html', 'homepageUrl': 'https://www.finng.com.ng/?amp\x3d1', 'searchUrl': 'https://www.finng.com.ng/search', 'canonicalHomepageUrl': 'https://www.finng.com.ng/', 'blogspotFaviconUrl': 'https://www.finng.com.ng/favicon.ico', 'bloggerUrl': 'https://www.blogger.com', 'hasCustomDomain': true, 'httpsEnabled': true, 'enabledCommentProfileImages': true, 'gPlusViewType': 'FILTERED_POSTMOD', 'adultContent': false, 'analyticsAccountNumber': 'G-DLH9WWPCWG', 'analytics4': true, 'encoding': 'UTF-8', 'locale': 'en', 'localeUnderscoreDelimited': 'en', 'languageDirection': 'ltr', 'isPrivate': false, 'isMobile': false, 'isMobileRequest': false, 'mobileClass': '', 'isPrivateBlog': false, 'isDynamicViewsAvailable': true, 'feedLinks': '\x3clink rel\x3d\x22alternate\x22 type\x3d\x22application/atom+xml\x22 title\x3d\x22FinNG - Atom\x22 href\x3d\x22https://www.finng.com.ng/feeds/posts/default\x22 /\x3e\n\x3clink rel\x3d\x22alternate\x22 type\x3d\x22application/rss+xml\x22 title\x3d\x22FinNG - RSS\x22 href\x3d\x22https://www.finng.com.ng/feeds/posts/default?alt\x3drss\x22 /\x3e\n\x3clink rel\x3d\x22service.post\x22 type\x3d\x22application/atom+xml\x22 title\x3d\x22FinNG - Atom\x22 href\x3d\x22https://www.blogger.com/feeds/583368488428019423/posts/default\x22 /\x3e\n\n\x3clink rel\x3d\x22alternate\x22 type\x3d\x22application/atom+xml\x22 title\x3d\x22FinNG - Atom\x22 href\x3d\x22https://www.finng.com.ng/feeds/7160521145431964122/comments/default\x22 /\x3e\n', 'meTag': '', 'adsenseClientId': 'ca-pub-7216556125373603', 'adsenseHostId': 'ca-host-pub-1556223355139109', 'adsenseHasAds': true, 'adsenseAutoAds': true, 'boqCommentIframeForm': true, 'loginRedirectParam': '', 'view': '', 'dynamicViewsCommentsSrc': '//www.blogblog.com/dynamicviews/4224c15c4e7c9321/js/comments.js', 'dynamicViewsScriptSrc': '//www.blogblog.com/dynamicviews/93b5482d11d1bbee', 'plusOneApiSrc': 'https://apis.google.com/js/platform.js', 'disableGComments': true, 'interstitialAccepted': false, 'sharing': {'platforms': [{'name': 'Get link', 'key': 'link', 'shareMessage': 'Get link', 'target': ''}, {'name': 'Facebook', 'key': 'facebook', 'shareMessage': 'Share to Facebook', 'target': 'facebook'}, {'name': 'BlogThis!', 'key': 'blogThis', 'shareMessage': 'BlogThis!', 'target': 'blog'}, {'name': 'X', 'key': 'twitter', 'shareMessage': 'Share to X', 'target': 'twitter'}, {'name': 'Pinterest', 'key': 'pinterest', 'shareMessage': 'Share to Pinterest', 'target': 'pinterest'}, {'name': 'Email', 'key': 'email', 'shareMessage': 'Email', 'target': 'email'}], 'disableGooglePlus': true, 'googlePlusShareButtonWidth': 0, 'googlePlusBootstrap': '\x3cscript type\x3d\x22text/javascript\x22\x3ewindow.___gcfg \x3d {\x27lang\x27: \x27en\x27};\x3c/script\x3e'}, 'hasCustomJumpLinkMessage': false, 'jumpLinkMessage': 'Read more', 'pageType': 'item', 'postId': '7160521145431964122', 'postImageThumbnailUrl': 'https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFXqXYqUbo-WMPKjeUijjNQVgAjFp4WYdB0T3Wtr_0CEp3W0v2GisyrnKcouUubsecHobVnt9tdFC_6RDOn9ceYHxr7mX9REa7_jBZU1Y_irGNgfA9sNoIB7iTOpJOc1xUp5WwS_EwCmh7o7wnJVVQnSf43LHccebmWr4LUCjQNhKoNl9WRQd65y587CAM/s72-c-rw/smartcash.webp', 'postImageUrl': 'https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFXqXYqUbo-WMPKjeUijjNQVgAjFp4WYdB0T3Wtr_0CEp3W0v2GisyrnKcouUubsecHobVnt9tdFC_6RDOn9ceYHxr7mX9REa7_jBZU1Y_irGNgfA9sNoIB7iTOpJOc1xUp5WwS_EwCmh7o7wnJVVQnSf43LHccebmWr4LUCjQNhKoNl9WRQd65y587CAM/s16000-rw/smartcash.webp', 'pageName': 'How to open a Smartcash Account in Nigeria', 'pageTitle': 'FinNG: How to open a Smartcash Account in Nigeria', 'metaDescription': 'This is a simple step by step guide to register an Airtel\x27s Smartcash account in Nigeria using your phone number.'}}, {'name': 'features', 'data': {}}, {'name': 'messages', 'data': {'edit': 'Edit', 'linkCopiedToClipboard': 'Link copied to clipboard!', 'ok': 'Ok', 'postLink': 'Post Link'}}, {'name': 'template', 'data': {'name': 'custom', 'localizedName': 'Custom', 'isResponsive': true, 'isAlternateRendering': false, 'isCustom': true}}, {'name': 'view', 'data': {'classic': {'name': 'classic', 'url': '?view\x3dclassic'}, 'flipcard': {'name': 'flipcard', 'url': '?view\x3dflipcard'}, 'magazine': {'name': 'magazine', 'url': '?view\x3dmagazine'}, 'mosaic': {'name': 'mosaic', 'url': '?view\x3dmosaic'}, 'sidebar': {'name': 'sidebar', 'url': '?view\x3dsidebar'}, 'snapshot': {'name': 'snapshot', 'url': '?view\x3dsnapshot'}, 'timeslide': {'name': 'timeslide', 'url': '?view\x3dtimeslide'}, 'isMobile': false, 'title': 'How to open a Smartcash Account in Nigeria', 'description': 'This is a simple step by step guide to register an Airtel\x27s Smartcash account in Nigeria using your phone number.', 'featuredImage': 'https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFXqXYqUbo-WMPKjeUijjNQVgAjFp4WYdB0T3Wtr_0CEp3W0v2GisyrnKcouUubsecHobVnt9tdFC_6RDOn9ceYHxr7mX9REa7_jBZU1Y_irGNgfA9sNoIB7iTOpJOc1xUp5WwS_EwCmh7o7wnJVVQnSf43LHccebmWr4LUCjQNhKoNl9WRQd65y587CAM/s16000-rw/smartcash.webp', 'url': 'https://www.finng.com.ng/2025/10/how-to-open-smartcash-account-in-nigeria.html?amp\x3d1', 'type': 'item', 'isSingleItem': true, 'isMultipleItems': false, 'isError': false, 'isPage': false, 'isPost': true, 'isHomepage': false, 'isArchive': false, 'isLabelSearch': false, 'postId': 7160521145431964122}}, {'name': 'widgets', 'data': [{'title': 'FinNG (Header)', 'type': 'Header', 'sectionId': 'sec_Header_Title', 'id': 'Header01'}, {'title': 'Looking for something?', 'type': 'BlogSearch', 'sectionId': 'sec_Header_Search', 'id': 'BlogSearch01'}, {'title': 'Header Icon', 'type': 'TextList', 'sectionId': 'sec_Header_Icon', 'id': 'TextList01'}, {'title': 'Bookmark Posts', 'type': 'LinkList', 'sectionId': 'sec_Header_Icon', 'id': 'LinkList02'}, {'title': 'Navigation Menu', 'type': 'HTML', 'sectionId': 'sec_Nav_Widgets_1', 'id': 'HTML01'}, {'title': 'Navigation Menu (Simple)', 'type': 'PageList', 'sectionId': 'sec_Nav_Widgets_1', 'id': 'PageList01'}, {'title': 'Additional Links', 'type': 'PageList', 'sectionId': 'sec_Nav_Widgets_2', 'id': 'PageList02'}, {'title': 'Social Links', 'type': 'LinkList', 'sectionId': 'sec_Nav_Widgets_2', 'id': 'LinkList04'}, {'title': 'Tabbed Menu', 'type': 'LinkList', 'sectionId': 'sec_Under_Header', 'id': 'LinkList05'}, {'title': 'Blog Posts', 'type': 'Blog', 'sectionId': 'sec_Main_Widgets', 'id': 'Blog01', 'posts': [{'id': '7160521145431964122', 'title': 'How to open a Smartcash Account in Nigeria', 'featuredImage': 'https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFXqXYqUbo-WMPKjeUijjNQVgAjFp4WYdB0T3Wtr_0CEp3W0v2GisyrnKcouUubsecHobVnt9tdFC_6RDOn9ceYHxr7mX9REa7_jBZU1Y_irGNgfA9sNoIB7iTOpJOc1xUp5WwS_EwCmh7o7wnJVVQnSf43LHccebmWr4LUCjQNhKoNl9WRQd65y587CAM/s16000-rw/smartcash.webp', 'showInlineAds': false}], 'footerBylines': [{'regionName': 'footer1', 'items': [{'name': 'author', 'label': 'Published by'}, {'name': 'timestamp', 'label': 'On'}, {'name': 'comments', 'label': 'Comment'}, {'name': 'share', 'label': ''}]}, {'regionName': 'footer2', 'items': [{'name': 'labels', 'label': 'in'}]}, {'regionName': 'footer3', 'items': [{'name': 'location', 'label': 'Location:'}]}], 'allBylineItems': [{'name': 'author', 'label': 'Published by'}, {'name': 'timestamp', 'label': 'On'}, {'name': 'comments', 'label': 'Comment'}, {'name': 'share', 'label': ''}, {'name': 'labels', 'label': 'in'}, {'name': 'location', 'label': 'Location:'}]}, {'title': 'Post Middle Ads', 'type': 'LinkList', 'sectionId': 'sec_Main_Widgets', 'id': 'LinkList84'}, {'title': 'Table of contents', 'type': 'HTML', 'sectionId': 'sec_Main_Widgets', 'id': 'HTML11'}, {'title': 'Trending', 'type': 'PopularPosts', 'sectionId': 'sec_Side_Widgets', 'id': 'PopularPosts01', 'posts': [{'title': 'Germany Taps Munich Startup Tytan to Design Bundeswehr Drone-Defense Concept', 'id': 189794073472333441}, {'title': 'What is Carbon Nexus and How Does It Works For Nigeria Businesses?', 'id': 8268159075344128592}, {'title': 'Indonesia Suspends TikTok Registration Over Data Compliance Issues', 'id': 5736219468292514246}, {'title': 'Best Winery Recommendations and Lunch Spots in SA', 'id': 409104909644723665}, {'title': 'Minipay Rolls Out Virtual USD and EUR Accounts', 'id': 5773915848142332492}, {'title': 'Trump Authorizes Troops for Portland With Threaten of \x22Full Force if Necessary\x22', 'id': 5480403221306984001}, {'title': 'OPay and Moniepoint Reportedly File for U.S. Banking Licence', 'id': 2186404869246632753}, {'title': 'OPay SWIFT Code: Check SWIFT/BIC Code For All OPay Branches', 'id': 3464978692321637681}, {'title': 'Meta plans to offer Ad-Free Paid Subscription for both Instagram and Facebook in the UK', 'id': 6567713605738430483}, {'title': 'Electronic Arts on the Verge of $50 Billion Buyout', 'id': 2895279664930505472}]}, {'title': 'Take me back', 'type': 'HTML', 'sectionId': 'sec_Error_404', 'id': 'HTML404'}, {'title': 'Organization [BlogTitle]', 'type': 'Image', 'sectionId': 'sec_Footer_Organization', 'id': 'Image21'}, {'title': 'Labels', 'type': 'LinkList', 'sectionId': 'sec_Footer_Widgets', 'id': 'LinkList22'}, {'title': 'Newsroom', 'type': 'LinkList', 'sectionId': 'sec_Footer_Widgets', 'id': 'LinkList23'}, {'title': 'Site Info', 'type': 'LinkList', 'sectionId': 'sec_Footer_Widgets', 'id': 'LinkList24'}, {'title': 'Legal', 'type': 'LinkList', 'sectionId': 'sec_Footer_Widgets', 'id': 'LinkList25'}, {'title': 'Credit', 'type': 'HTML', 'sectionId': 'sec_Footer_Bottom', 'id': 'HTML21'}, {'title': 'Mobile Menu', 'type': 'TextList', 'sectionId': 'sec_Mobile_Menu', 'id': 'TextList99'}, {'title': 'Labels', 'type': 'Label', 'sectionId': 'sec_Theme_Hidden', 'id': 'Label41'}, {'title': '\u09af\u09cb\u0997\u09be\u09af\u09cb\u0997 \u09ab\u09b0\u09cd\u09ae', 'type': 'ContactForm', 'sectionId': 'sec_Theme_Hidden', 'id': 'ContactForm41'}, {'title': 'Pageviews last month', 'type': 'Stats', 'sectionId': 'sec_Theme_Hidden', 'id': 'Stats41'}, {'title': 'Cookie Consent [NoTitle]', 'type': 'LinkList', 'sectionId': 'sec_Addon_Widgets', 'id': 'LinkList63'}]}]);
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_HeaderView', new _WidgetInfo('Header01', 'sec_Header_Title', document.getElementById('Header01'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_BlogSearchView', new _WidgetInfo('BlogSearch01', 'sec_Header_Search', document.getElementById('BlogSearch01'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_TextListView', new _WidgetInfo('TextList01', 'sec_Header_Icon', document.getElementById('TextList01'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_LinkListView', new _WidgetInfo('LinkList02', 'sec_Header_Icon', document.getElementById('LinkList02'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_HTMLView', new _WidgetInfo('HTML01', 'sec_Nav_Widgets_1', document.getElementById('HTML01'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_PageListView', new _WidgetInfo('PageList01', 'sec_Nav_Widgets_1', document.getElementById('PageList01'), {'title': 'Navigation Menu (Simple)', 'links': [{'isCurrentPage': false, 'href': 'https://www.finng.com.ng/p/about.html?amp\x3d1', 'id': '6888742164267872334', 'title': 'About'}, {'isCurrentPage': false, 'href': 'https://www.finng.com.ng/p/contact.html?amp\x3d1', 'id': '7288069754807187575', 'title': 'Contact'}, {'isCurrentPage': false, 'href': 'https://www.finng.com.ng/p/sitemap_30.html?amp\x3d1', 'id': '3746601758299324704', 'title': 'Sitemap'}], 'mobile': false, 'showPlaceholder': true, 'hasCurrentPage': false}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_PageListView', new _WidgetInfo('PageList02', 'sec_Nav_Widgets_2', document.getElementById('PageList02'), {'title': 'Additional Links', 'links': [{'isCurrentPage': false, 'href': 'https://www.finng.com.ng/p/toc.html?amp\x3d1', 'id': '5460972832949037673', 'title': 'TOC'}, {'isCurrentPage': false, 'href': 'https://www.finng.com.ng/p/privacy.html?amp\x3d1', 'id': '2970028835560599398', 'title': 'Privacy'}, {'isCurrentPage': false, 'href': 'https://www.finng.com.ng/p/disclaimer.html?amp\x3d1', 'id': '5191794516836314888', 'title': 'Disclaimer'}], 'mobile': false, 'showPlaceholder': true, 'hasCurrentPage': false}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_LinkListView', new _WidgetInfo('LinkList04', 'sec_Nav_Widgets_2', document.getElementById('LinkList04'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_LinkListView', new _WidgetInfo('LinkList05', 'sec_Under_Header', document.getElementById('LinkList05'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_BlogView', new _WidgetInfo('Blog01', 'sec_Main_Widgets', document.getElementById('Blog01'), {'cmtInteractionsEnabled': false}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_LinkListView', new _WidgetInfo('LinkList84', 'sec_Main_Widgets', document.getElementById('LinkList84'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_HTMLView', new _WidgetInfo('HTML11', 'sec_Main_Widgets', document.getElementById('HTML11'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_PopularPostsView', new _WidgetInfo('PopularPosts01', 'sec_Side_Widgets', document.getElementById('PopularPosts01'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_HTMLView', new _WidgetInfo('HTML404', 'sec_Error_404', document.getElementById('HTML404'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_ImageView', new _WidgetInfo('Image21', 'sec_Footer_Organization', document.getElementById('Image21'), {'resize': true}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_LinkListView', new _WidgetInfo('LinkList22', 'sec_Footer_Widgets', document.getElementById('LinkList22'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_LinkListView', new _WidgetInfo('LinkList23', 'sec_Footer_Widgets', document.getElementById('LinkList23'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_LinkListView', new _WidgetInfo('LinkList24', 'sec_Footer_Widgets', document.getElementById('LinkList24'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_LinkListView', new _WidgetInfo('LinkList25', 'sec_Footer_Widgets', document.getElementById('LinkList25'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_HTMLView', new _WidgetInfo('HTML21', 'sec_Footer_Bottom', document.getElementById('HTML21'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_TextListView', new _WidgetInfo('TextList99', 'sec_Mobile_Menu', document.getElementById('TextList99'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_LabelView', new _WidgetInfo('Label41', 'sec_Theme_Hidden', document.getElementById('Label41'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_ContactFormView', new _WidgetInfo('ContactForm41', 'sec_Theme_Hidden', document.getElementById('ContactForm41'), {'contactFormMessageSendingMsg': 'Sending...', 'contactFormMessageSentMsg': 'Your message has been sent.', 'contactFormMessageNotSentMsg': 'Message could not be sent. Please try again later.', 'contactFormInvalidEmailMsg': 'A valid email address is required.', 'contactFormEmptyMessageMsg': 'Message field cannot be empty.', 'title': '\u09af\u09cb\u0997\u09be\u09af\u09cb\u0997 \u09ab\u09b0\u09cd\u09ae', 'blogId': '583368488428019423', 'contactFormNameMsg': 'Name', 'contactFormEmailMsg': 'Email', 'contactFormMessageMsg': 'Message', 'contactFormSendMsg': 'Send', 'contactFormToken': 'AOuZoY5rdBgLb3zu1tKDgaV5VQSMsikNrQ:1761910310012', 'submitUrl': 'https://www.blogger.com/contact-form.do'}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_StatsView', new _WidgetInfo('Stats41', 'sec_Theme_Hidden', document.getElementById('Stats41'), {'title': 'Pageviews last month', 'showGraphicalCounter': false, 'showAnimatedCounter': false, 'showSparkline': true, 'statsUrl': '//www.finng.com.ng/b/stats?amp\x3d1\x26style\x3dBLACK_TRANSPARENT\x26timeRange\x3dLAST_WEEK\x26token\x3dAPq4FmDo48OvVREwNaf3y4npVA4WA8yR5H1qVx84dqE02xyN1OApSi0NkHo3AUey7L2XzLeI8Yv2vLDKolJL53PJLK7fg0n59g'}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_LinkListView', new _WidgetInfo('LinkList63', 'sec_Addon_Widgets', document.getElementById('LinkList63'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
</script>
</body>