Frequently
asked questions

Can't find your answer? We're here to help! Ask one of our advisors at nigeria@branch.co

Branch makes it easy for people in Nigeria to transfer money, get instant loans up to ₦1,000,000 and enjoy investment yields of up to 10% and 15% per annum on Flexi Investments and Target Investments respectively.
Branch has offices in Nairobi, Kenya; Lagos, Nigeria; Mumbai, India; and San Francisco, United States.
At the moment, Branch operates in India, Kenya, Tanzania, and Nigeria.
You can follow this link and click Update. Or you can go to Google Play, search for “Branch International” then click “Update”.
At the moment, we do not provide customer support by phone number or in person. Please send us a message via the app any time, and we will help you resolve whatever issue you may have.
Please click here to see what other customers are saying about Branch.
Branch Wallet lets you perform reliable transfers to other banks, pay bills such as Electricity and Cable TV, and buy Airtime & Data via the Branch app with no extra charges. You can fund your Branch Wallet with a Branch loan, bank transfer, or debit card.
You can fund your Branch wallet with a Branch loan, debit card, or bank transfer.
You can fund your wallet by making a bank transfer from your mobile banking app to the personalized bank name and account number provided in the app.

To fund your Wallet with a bank transfer:

• Tap “Add funds” in the Wallet section of the app

• Choose the “Fund from Own Account” option in the “Select Funding Method” menu and tap “Continue”

• Select 'Bank Transfer' and tap 'Confirm Funding'

• A unique Branch International Financial Services account number will be provided in the app (If you can’t find us by searching “Branch International Financial Services’, please search BIFS.)

• The payment made will reflect in your Branch wallet once the payment is successful.
To fund your Wallet a debit card:

• Tap “Add funds” in the Wallet section of the app

• Choose the “Fund from Own Account” option in the “Select Funding Method” menu and tap “Continue”

• Select 'Debit Card', then tap 'Continue' to choose the debit card you want to use to fund your Wallet

• Continue your transaction by entering the amount, then tap 'Confirm Funding' to complete the transaction

• The payment made will reflect in your Branch Wallet once the payment is successful.
Maximum Wallet balances are determined by your account Tier. Please view Transaction Limits section of FAQs for more information.
To make a bank transfer to your bank account from your Branch wallet using the app:

• Tap 'Free Transfer' or 'Funds Transfer' in the Wallet section of the app

• Tap 'Select Destination' and select 'My Own Account'

• Select a bank account registered on your Branch account and then tap 'Continue'

• Enter the amount you want to transfer

• Confirm your details and tap 'Confirm Withdraw' at the bottom of the page to complete the transfer

Please note that you will be able to view the new balance in your Branch Wallet after you complete the transaction.
To make a transfer to another account from your Branch Wallet using the app:

• Tap 'Free Transfer' or 'Funds Transfer' in the Wallet section of the app

• Tap 'Select Destination' and select “Another Account”

• Select the Bank and enter the Account Number you want to make a transfer to

• Enter the amount you want to transfer

• Confirm the details and tap 'Confirm Transfer' at the bottom of the page to complete the transfer

Please note that you will be able to view the new balance in your Branch Wallet after you complete the transaction.
You can not earn interest on your Branch Wallet balance. However, you can earn interest with the Branch Investment products which allow you to deposit as low as N1,000 and earn returns of 10% or 15% per annum with our Flexi Investment or Target Investment products respectively.
This is the Branch account number that works like your regular bank account numbers. You can use the account number to fund your wallet and receive money from any bank. To view the number, click “Account Info” in the wallet section of the app.
• You can choose between our Flexi Investment and Target Investment products.

• With our Flexi investment, you can deposit any amount and make withdrawals at anytime.

• With our Target Investment you have two options - Fixed investment or Amount Goal.
     • With Fixed Investment, you can deposit a minimum of N1,000 for 1-12 months and get your investment amount plus returns paid to your Branch Wallet at maturity. You can also create multiple Fixed investments, name them and select different maturity dates for each of them.
     • With Amount Goal, you can set a target total amount you would like to save which you can add to manually or periodically with our auto-debit feature. Funds can only be withdrawn when your goal has been reached.
• Interest on our Flexi Investment is 10% per annum which is calculated daily and paid weekly on Mondays. Your weekly interest earnings are added to your Flexi investment account and you can withdraw the funds at any time into your Branch wallet.

• Interest on our Target Investment products is 15% per annum. When your Target investment mature, the funds are paid out to our Branch Wallet.

• All investments with Branch will be subject to applicable taxes as outlined in Withholding Tax section of the FAQs.
• Branch is a socially responsible company and does not invest in high risk financial instruments that are volatile and unstable. Investments through the Branch app are in low risk securities with capital preservation as the ultimate goal.

• We are licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria to provide fund management services, we take the appropriate steps to ensure that your funds are safe and we are able to return them to you when you need them. We encourage you to also seek professional advice before investing your funds
• Technology: Current banks have high costs while Branch is fully virtual. Branch also employs the latest technology including artificial intelligence to operate at lower cost and we pass these savings onto customers.

• Long term investors: Branch is backed by visionary global investors, ranging from Andreessen Horowitz (who backed Facebook, Twitter and other global platforms early on) to Visa (who understands how to build a global trusted financial service). These investors see an immense opportunity to improve financial services for the average Nigerian (less fees, more convenient, better value, etc). This conviction enables Branch to build long term relationships by giving customers better value upfront and overtime compared to their bank.
• For Flexi Investment, there is no minimum term. You can withdraw your funds at any time into your Branch wallet instantly.

• For Target Investment;
     • Our Fixed investment minimum term is 30 days. Once your investment matures, it will be paid into your Branch Wallet. You cannot withdraw from your Fixed investment until it matures.
     • Amount Goal has no minimum tenor. Your savings are locked till you reach your target total amount. Once your target total amount is reached, your savings will mature and be paid into your Branch Wallet. The minimum individual deposit you can make to your overall Amount Goal is N100. (For example, if you choose an Amount Goal of N200,000, your savings will mature once you save N200,000, however long it takes).
We are licensed by the CBN to provide fund management services, therefore we are able to manage the funds placed with us by ourselves. We also work with licensed fund managers who invest the funds on our behalf in approved investment opportunities.
Once your Branch wallet is funded, tap the 'Invest' option, select 'Make an Investment', enter the amount you want to invest, complete your investment and you start to earn from your investment on Branch.
We're sorry but you are unable to access the Branch app with this device. This is because Branch is currently only available for Android devices. Should we begin to offer our services through other platforms, we will let you know.
You can set up the auto-invest option for your Flexi investment and your Target Investment Amount Goal. For Flexi Investment;

• Go to the Flexi investment section of the App, click on 'View Flexi', and click on 'Set Up Auto Invest'.

• Click on 'Continue to Set Up Auto Invest' to enter an amount not less than N 100 to auto-invest.

• Select Auto Invest Frequency, click on the dropdown to choose between daily, weekly, or monthly when your account will be auto-debited.

• Select Auto Invest Account, click on the dropdown under 'Select Funding Account' to select the account to invest with between 'Branch Wallet' or 'Debit Card',

• Then click on 'Continue' to confirm your auto-invest details.

• The amount you set up will be debited on the selected date and deposited into your Flexi Investment if the transaction is successful

For Target Investment Amount goal, you will be given the option to set up auto-debit from your Debit Card or Branch Wallet when you first set up each Amount goal.
You can get your debit card by clicking on the card request alert on your Branch Home screen or Branch wallet home screen and following the prompt
Any user on Branch can request for a Debit card
You can set a debit card pin while activating your card. You can also change your debit card pin from the Manage card section of your Branch Wallet
Not at the moment, international transactions would be enabled in future
Card Transactions can be done on every bank ATM in Nigeria
Yes. Your card is linked to your Branch wallet, all transactions will impact your wallet
Yes, the delivery cost is a function of the delivery location. The delivery cost will be displayed to you while requesting your debit card.
At the moment, there are no charges incurred for owning a Branch Debit card
For this first release, you will be unable to but this might be enabled for future iterations
You can write to us for a Pin reset which we would do after providing some required information
There are currently no charges associated with using a branch debit card for transactions
Requirements are simple - all you need to apply is your phone number or Facebook account, bank verification number (BVN) and bank account number. We will also request access to the data on your phone in order to build your credit score.
Branch uses data from your phone, including your handset details and SMS messages to automatically make lending decisions. We combine this with your Branch repayment history to build an individualised credit score, which determines the loan offers you receive.
If you don’t get accepted when you apply, don't worry! Sometimes it may take several attempts to qualify for a loan. We encourage you to continue saving data on your phone and to reapply after the period stipulated.
We aim to process all loan within 24 hours. We hope to reduce it soon to just a few minutes.
Branch uses data from your phone as well as other sources to make a lending decision. To increase your chances of approval, please make sure to save the data on your phone, stay current with all other lenders, and correctly input your account details.
Once a phone has been used to access Branch, it cannot be used by anyone else. To access Branch, kindly use another phone that you own and that has not been used for a Branch loan before.
Applying for a loan is easy! After you have downloaded the Branch app, all you need to do is sign up, navigate to the “Loans” option at the bottom of the Home screen, and fill in your personal details, phone number and bank details. Then you can view available loan offers, select an option, and tap “Apply”.
Our loan sizes range from ₦2,000 to ₦1,000,000. If you repay loans as scheduled, the amount that you can borrow will increase.
The loan offers you see depend on a number of factors, including your repayment history with Branch. If you repay each installment by its due date, you may unlock access to larger loans over time. Note that the increase may not always be immediate, and that repaying your loan late may result in smaller loan offers.
Unfortunately, you won't be able to access a loan of a larger size. The fastest way to increase the amount you are eligible for is to build credit by making each repayment as scheduled.
The largest loan amount we currently offer is ₦1,000,000. To access this amount you need to take and successfully repay the smaller amounts as scheduled and gradually build your credit limit.
Interest rates are determined by a number of factors, including your repayment history with Branch and the cost of lending for us. Depending on these factors, our rates vary as follows:

• Loan Terms: 1 – 12 Weeks
• Late / Rollover Fees: None
• Interest Range: 17% – 40%
• Equivalent Monthly Interest: 1.5% – 15%
• Equivalent APR: 18% – 260%

Borrowers are required to cover any bank transaction fees associated with repaying the loan. Standard SMS and data charges by your mobile carrier may apply.
Your loan offers are automatically determined by a number of factors. Even though it may not always increase immediately, it will increase over time as you continue to make all of your repayments as scheduled.
Each loan amount is automatically determined by our systems each time you repay based on a number of factors. We encourage you to keep making your repayments as scheduled to increase your loan amount.
There are several ways to repay a Branch loan.
  1. In the Branch app with a debit card. Tap here for instructions.
  2. Via bank transfer to your unique account number. In the Branch app, select 'Bank transfer' as the repayment method to view your unique account number. Tap here for instructions.
  3. For GT Bank, Sterling, UBA and Zenith accounts only, in the Branch app via USSD. Tap here for instructions.
  4. With cash at a GT Bank branch. Tap here for instructions.
If you are having trouble with repayments please retry or contact us by using the chat feature in the app.
  1. From 'My Loan', tap the 'Make a Payment' button.
  2. Select the Amount you wish to repay.
  3. After you have made your selection, tap 'Continue'.
  4. On the 'Select Repayment Method' screen, select 'Debit Card' from the drop-down menu.
  5. Add your Debit (ATM) card details:
    1. Card Number (16 or 19-digit in front of your card)
    2. Card Expiry Date (Month and Year in which your card expires)
    3. CVV (a 3-digit number at the back of your card)
  6. After you have filled in the details, tap 'Continue'.
  7. Choose your auto-debit setting under 'Payment Options' and tap 'Continue'. Tap here to learn more about auto-debit.
  8. To secure your payment, some banks will ask for your pin or send a security code to your phone.
  9. Your payment is done. If successful, your account will be updated automatically within a few seconds.
Please note that no fees will be charged to you for this transaction.
  1. From 'My Loan', tap the 'Make a Payment' button.
  2. Select the amount you wish to repay.
  3. After you have made your selection, tap 'Continue'.
  4. On the 'Select Repayment Method' screen, select 'Bank transfer' from the drop-down menu.
  5. Copy your personal account number.
  6. Open your mobile banking application. Initiate a bank transfer to Bank Name and the Account Number copied from the Branch app.
  7. Your payment is done. If successful, your account will be updated automatically within a few seconds.
Please note that your bank may charge you a transfer fee; however, there is no additional fee from Branch.

You must use the account number displayed in the Branch app in order to make a successful payment. Account numbers are unique to each individual customer and the transfer will only succeed if the account number matches your personal details in the Branch app.
You can repay your loan in cash at any GT Bank branch using GTCollections and you do not need a GT Bank account to make your payment. At the bank, make a payment with the following steps:
  1. Tell the teller you would like to pay 'Branch International Financial Serv Ltd' using GTCollections.
  2. Fill in your personal details on the deposit slip
  3. Find your "Reference ID" in the Branch app by tapping "Make a Payment", selecting the amount you wish to pay, and selecting "Cash" from the "Repayment method" dropdown
  4. Add your "Reference ID" to the deposit slip
You can select any amount up to the total amount due on your loan. If accepted, your repayment will reflect on your Branch account immediately. A bank charge of ₦100 will apply.
  1. In order to repay your loan with USSD, you must have either a GTB, Sterling, UBA or Zenith bank account added to your Branch account. If you do not have one already added, simply go to the 'My Account' screen on your app, tap 'Bank account' and then tap 'Add account'.
  2. From 'My Loan', tap the 'Make a Payment' button.
  3. Select or enter the amount you wish to repay, then tap 'Continue'.
  4. On the 'Select Repayment Method' screen, select the USSD option and tap 'Continue'.
  5. Confirm your repayment.
  6. You will see a screen with instructions to 'Complete USSD Payment'. Tap the 'Dial' button to open your phone dialer.
  7. Press the call button in your dialler to dial your unique USSD code.
  8. Your payment is done. If successful, your account will be updated automatically within a few seconds.
Bank charges apply.
Auto-debit makes repaying your Branch loan easy! Tap the 'Make a Payment' button on the 'My Loan' screen in the Branch app to initiate a payment. Add a new debit card or use an existing card to make a payment, and ensure that auto-debit is turned on. When the payment succeeds, eligible cards will be debited automatically at each subsequent repayment date.
Branch supports most MasterCard, Visa, and Verve cards for auto-debit as long as there are sufficient funds in the account.
If you want to repay the loan in one payment, we advise that you do it on your first repayment date to make sure that you are not late on any of your loan repayments. Kindly note that you cannot skip your first three repayments and pay the whole loan on the last due date as this will negatively affect your future loan amounts.
To view your repayment information, tap on your loan balance on the Home screen or the “Loans” option at the bottom of the Home screen, then tap on “Repayment Schedule”. You will be able to see your installments, due dates and the amounts due on those dates.
Depending on the loan amount you select, a monthly repayment option may be available. Tap “Select Loan Terms” to choose between weekly or monthly payments prior to requesting the loan.
Repayments can take up to 24 hours to reflect. If it has been over 24 hours since you made your repayment and it hasn't reflected, kindly send us the transaction confirmation message you received when you repaid your loan to our email address. We will follow up and update your account. If you made your repayment through the cash deposit option, kindly send the deposit slip and payment receipt that you used to make your repayment to nigeria@branch.co and title it as 'LOAN REPAYMENT'. This will help us trace your repayment and update your account.
To increase your loan offer amount, we strongly encourage you to repay your loan according to your “Repayment Schedule”, which can be found by tapping the “Loans” option at the bottom of the Home screen.
If you overpay your loan, the overpayment is credited to your account and used as part or full repayment, depending on the amount, on your next loan.
The account did not have sufficient funds to cover the transaction amount at the time of the transaction. Kindly fund your account with sufficient funds and re-initiate the transaction by tapping 'Make a Payment'. If you do have sufficient funds in your account, kindly ensure that the ATM card that you are using to repay your loan is not linked to more than one bank account type (for example, a savings account and a current account). If the card is linked to multiple account types, kindly transfer the funds to the other account and try the transaction again.
Loan cancellation is only possible within 3 days of loan disbursal to users who have not utilised the loan or any part of it. After this period, you will be liable for the principal, interest and any other agreed fee. Please reach out to the Customer Service team in-app to cancel your loan.
Paying each installment by its due date is important to build your credit score and increase your loan limit. Late repayments will affect your ability to get subsequent or larger loans. A late fee of 6% can be charged on the outstanding loan repayment amount for some loans. If you are very late on your payments, we may report to the National Credit Reference Bureau (CRB). Being listed with the CRB will block you from getting access to loans from other lenders and may also affect your ability to get a job with certain employers. Conversely, if you repay your loans as on or before the scheduled dates, you will gain access to larger loan amounts over time.
Unfortunately, Branch cannot alter your repayment schedule after you've received a loan. If you are unable to repay the full amount due, we advise you to start making partial repayments as soon as possible.
A Credit Reference Bureau (CRB) collects credit information on individuals and provides repayment performance data to banks, lenders, and other businesses. CRBs help promote financial inclusion and prevent over indebtedness.
There are multiple ways to earn rewards:
  •  Bill Payment Cashback - Earn 2% cash back for every bill payment made with Branch when you pay a bill (Airtime/Data top up, Cable TV and Electricity) worth ₦200 and above.
  •  Bill Payment - Up to 5 bill payments per month
  •  All airtime and data purchases above ₦200
No, you will pay the full bill amount. Then your rewards account is instantly credited with the bonus amount
It is a way for you to earn ₦2,000 rewards by inviting friends to take loans on Branch. You and your friends both get to earn ₦2,000 once they take out and fully repay their first loan.
Once you repay your loan on time, you can share your invite code with friends. When they apply your invite code, proceed to take a loan and repay the loan, you both receive ₦2,000 in your rewards account.
You become eligible by repaying all your loan installments on time.
The invite code is your referral key. It helps us keep track of everyone you refer and ensures you get rewarded for every referral you make.
Simply share your invite code with friends who are yet to apply for a loan on the Branch app. It is as straightforward as that!
Your friend needs to take a loan and repay on as scheduled.
Both you and your friend receive the ₦2,000 reward in your rewards accounts, which can be used to purchase airtime, data, and complete a bill payment transaction.
Absolutely! Invite as many friends as you want, and you'll earn rewards for each successful referral.
To edit your personal details, click on this link My Account, or tap on the person icon on the top right corner of your screen that takes you to “My Account”. Then tap “Profile” to update your personal information.
If you are having trouble validating your contact number, write to us through “Customer Care” in the app. We will resend the validation code to you.
To know your BVN, dial *565*0# from the phone number linked to your bank account. Please note that your provider may charge N20 for each check.
If you would like to delete your account, please make sure that you have repaid all of your loans and then write to us on the in-app chat or email us at nigeria@branch.co with your request.
Politically Exposed Persons are individuals:
  1. who are or have been entrusted with public functions in Nigeria or in foreign countries and include:
    1. Heads of State or Government
    2. State Governors
    3. Local Government Chairmen
    4. Senior Politician
    5. Senior Government Officials
    6. Judicial or military officials
    7. Senior executives of state owned corporations
    8. Important political party officials
    9. Family members or close associates of PEPs
    10. Members of royal families
  2. people or entities associated with the persons above.
  3. are or have been entrusted with a prominent function by an international organisation including members of senior management including directors, deputy directors and members of the board or equivalent functions other than middle.
We use world-class data security and encryption techniques to protect the data you share with us. Branch never shares your information with third parties. We do not sell your data or credit profile.
Branch uses your BVN to ensure your account belongs to you, and so no one else can apply for a loan using your account. Your BVN does not give Branch access to your account. We understand that this is very sensitive information and take our customer privacy very seriously. If you have additional concerns, please contact your bank or the Branch customer service team.

To know your BVN, dial *565*0# from the phone number linked to your bank account. Please note that your provider may charge N20 for each check.
Branch uses data from your phone, including your handset details and financial transaction messages to make lending decisions. These data are a crucial part of our decision making process, and allow us to provide seamless and efficient financial services.
In your Android Phone, kindly go to Settings > Apps > Branch > Permissions and make sure that you have enabled Branch to access everything requested.
Withholding tax is the compulsory tax which in line with Nigerian Tax Regulations must be deducted from interest payable on your investment. The amount deducted is remitted to the Nigerian Tax Authorities
The current rate for withholding tax in Nigeria is 10% of earned interest.
Withholding tax is applied to total earned interest on any investment plan. For example if a user has a N100,000 investment upon which they have earned a N1,000 interest, 10% (N100) of the N1,000 interest will be deducted before the interest is paid to the user’s account. This means that the user will be paid only N100,900 upon maturity. The N100 will be paid to the appropriate Nigerian Tax Authority.
Withholding tax is applied to interest earned on both Flexi Investments and Target Investment
No, the withholding tax is only charged on the interest earned. You will still get the full principal amount invested
Branch has always remitted withholding tax on all interest paid without deducting the same from ours users. However, we have now been mandated to deduct the tax on all interest paid to our users in line with the Tax Regulations
When you open a Branch account your limit is decided based on the verification level completed. Each level has defined access to the product as mentioned below:

Level 1
    • Transaction limit - ₦50,000
    • Amount Balance Limit - ₦300,000

Level 2
    • Transaction limit - ₦100,000
    • Amount Balance Limit - ₦500,000

Level 3
    • Transaction limit - ₦1,000,000
    or upto ₦25,000,000
    • Amount Balance Limit - No Limit

You can upgrade your level by successfully verifying yourself to avail full benefits of the Branch app.
Depending on the identity information provided by you, we have three levels at Branch. To become eligible for these levels, you need to successfully meet the below identity criteria:

Level 1
    • Valid BVN Number
    • Personal Details

Level 2
    • Valid BVN Number
    • BVN verified Personal Details

Level 3
    • Valid BVN Number
    • BVN verified Personal Details
    • ID proof document