Your Bank Verification Number (BVN) is one of the most important identity documents you have in Nigeria’s banking system. It ties all your bank accounts together and acts as proof of your identity when conducting banking transactions. Therefore, it is very important that the details linked to your BVN, especially your date of birth, are accurate.
However, mistakes can happen when initially enrolling for a BVN. Or life events like marriage may require you to change details like your surname. In such situations, you would need to change or correct certain details on your existing BVN.
The most common amendment people seek is to change or correct their date of birth on the BVN. This comprehensive guide will explain everything you need to know about changing your BVN date of birth in Nigeria – the process, requirements, timelines, and limitations.
By the end, you will have a clear understanding of how to correctly change your date of birth on the BVN if there is an error or need for amendment. Let’s get started.
How to Change Your BVN Date of Birth
The first step is to visit the bank branch where you originally enrolled for your BVN. This is important because only that bank has access to your BVN details and can initiate an amendment.
Once at the bank branch, ask to speak to an officer at the customer service desk. Inform them that you need to change or correct the date of birth on your BVN. They will guide you through the rest of the process.
Generally, banks require the following documents for a BVN date of birth amendment:
- Court Affidavit: This is a sworn declaration made before a court of law stating the reason for the amendment. It must be certified and signed by a judge or magistrate.
- Valid Photo ID: This could be your national ID card, international passport, driver’s license or registered Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC). The ID must bear your current name and details.
- Your BVN: You need to provide your 11-digit BVN for verification and amendment purposes.
- Payment of Amendment Fee: Banks charge a nominal fee, usually between ₦1,000 to ₦3,000, for the amendment exercise. Have the exact amount with you.
With these documents, the bank will verify your identity, confirm the error or need for change, and initiate the correction of your BVN details via the central BVN database. Your thumbprint will also be captured for authentication.
Reasons to Change BVN Date of Birth
It is important to understand that the bank will only allow the correction of your BVN date of birth if there was a genuine error or mistake during initial enrollment. Some valid reasons for amendment include:
- Typo or incorrectly captured date of birth during enrollment
- Date of birth on ID doesn’t match what is on your BVN
- Adoption papers indicating change of date of birth
- Correction of date of birth already effected on valid ID documents like NIN
The bank will not make arbitrary changes just because you demand it. You need a strong, evidence-based reason for the amendment to be approved. Always have supporting documents for your claim ready during the process.
Note that you can only change your BVN date of birth once. Making multiple changes is not allowed so ensure the correction made is absolutely accurate.
Making Changes Online or Outside Nigeria
Unlike name or address updates, changing the date of birth details on your BVN cannot be done online. An in-person visit to the enrolling bank branch is required by Nigeria’s central bank (CBN) regulations.
However, if you are residing abroad, inquire from your bank on available channels to initiate the amendment remotely. They may direct you to an accredited BVN amendment center in that country.
Otherwise, you will need to temporarily return home to Nigeria to complete the process at your enrolling bank branch. Ensure that the complete set of requirements is carried out to avoid unnecessary delays.
Timing for Date of Birth Correction
Once the bank processes and submits the amendment request, it takes an average of 48 business hours for the changes to reflect across the central BVN database.
In some instances, it can take up to one week for all systems to update. Do not be alarmed if the timeframe exceeds expectations by a few days.
Keep checking with your bank periodically until confirmation comes through that the correction has taken effect. You can then request for an updated BVN slip/printout as proof of change.
Number of Times Date Can Be Changed
According to the CBN, a person is permitted to change details on their BVN, including date of birth, only once after initial enrollment. Subsequent requests for amendment will not be entertained.
It is therefore highly important to ensure the correction made is completely accurate before submitting the request. Double-check that all details have been updated correctly, as you won’t have another chance to change it again in the future.
Changing Details of a BVN Not in Your Name
It is important to note that you can only change or amend a BVN that was genuinely enrolled in your name. The bank will verify this during the correction process.
Do not attempt to fraudulently change details of a BVN not linked to you as that will be considered illegal identity theft. Only amendments to your rightfully enrolled BVN will be permitted by the bank.
Frequently Asked Questions
Now that we have covered the key aspects of changing your BVN date of birth in detail, let’s address some commonly asked questions on this subject:
Q: What if the bank I originally enrolled with is no longer operational?
A: In such cases, you can process the amendment at any branch of the new bank that acquired the assets and accounts of the defunct one. Alternatively, visit any bank you currently hold an account with.
Q: Can I change my date of birth to the one on my NIN even if it’s different from BVN?
A: Yes, as long as the date of birth on your valid NIN and ID cards match, and there is a proven mistake on the BVN, the bank may allow correcting it to match your NIN details.
Q: What if I still can’t reconcile the differing dates of birth across my IDs and BVN?
A: You may need to formally correct the DOB errors on your valid IDs first via the issuing agencies before the bank can align your BVN to the authenticated details.
Q: Is it possible to change my date of birth twice?
A: No, the CBN only permits a single date correction for any BVN. You cannot make multiple changes to the same detail like date of birth.
Q: How long does it take for the change to reflect in other banks and platforms using my BVN?
A: Once processed by the facilitating bank, it takes 48 hours on average for corrections to propagate across the central BVN database shared by all channels using the number.
Conclusion
Having the right details, especially your date of birth, accurately captured against your BVN is important. This post provides a comprehensive guide to understanding the process of correcting errors in the date of birth of an already enrolled BVN in Nigeria.
The key aspects covered include the requirements, timelines, limitations, and important considerations to note when seeking to change this important detail via your enrolling bank. With this information, you now have the necessary knowledge to efficiently rectify any mistakes regarding your date of birth on the BVN, if needed.