Quick Answer
Official ABSA USSD Code:
*120*2272#(*120*ABSA#)Last Verified: July 2026
The Absa code for cellphone banking in South Africa is *120*2272#, which spells out as *120*ABSA# on the keypad. Dial it and an active account holder can check balances, transfer funds, buy prepaid airtime and electricity, approve DebiCheck debits, send cash through CashSend, and manage PayShap payments, all from any handset and without a byte of mobile data.
What the Service Is and Who Can Use It
Absa Cellphone Banking over USSD is a menu service built for phones without data. It moves requests over ordinary cellular signalling, so it runs just as happily on a basic feature phone as on a new smartphone.
Eligibility and Requirements
- Eligible Accounts: Personal savings, cheque, and transactional accounts held with Absa South Africa.
- Registered SIM Requirement: Dial the USSD code from the SIM linked to your Absa banking profile. No other number will work.
- Exclusions: Numbers not registered on an Absa profile, and corporate accounts needing multi-signatory approval, cannot transact over USSD.
How to Access the Service
Before You Start
- Check you have network coverage (Vodacom, MTN, Cell C, or Telkom).
- Confirm you are on the SIM linked to your Absa account.
- Open the call dialler. No internet connection or mobile data is needed.
Verified Step-by-Step Process
- First-time registration:
- Dial
*120*2272#from your registered SIM. - Select 1 to accept the Terms and Conditions.
- Enter your South African ID number or passport number.
- Create a secure 5-digit numeric PIN.
- Confirm the registration details.
- Dial
- Everyday access:
- Dial
*120*2272#. - Enter your 5-digit Cellphone Banking PIN and press Send.
- Pick your task from the numbered menu: Balances, Airtime, Payments, PayShap, or CashSend.
- Dial
Confirmation or Expected Result
- On screen: Balance checks and short queries return the answer immediately in the session.
- By SMS: Anything that moves money, a CashSend code, a third-party payment, a prepaid purchase, generates an automated SMS receipt.
- If a session fails: Where the account is debited but nothing arrives, no electricity token, no airtime, check your SMS history for an automatic reversal before doing anything else. If there is none, call Absa with the session time and reference. Do not simply repeat the purchase.
Fees, Limits, Eligibility, and Processing Times
| Feature / Variable | Details / Standard Rules |
| Network Charge | A nominal USSD operator session fee per 20-second block, unless zero-rated by a network promotion. |
| Data Usage | 0 MB (no internet data required). |
| Transaction Limits | Set by the daily cellphone banking limits on your own account. |
| Processing Time | Real-time for balances, airtime, PayShap, and CashSend. |
| Security Lockout | Three consecutive wrong 5-digit PINs temporarily block access. |
Common Problems and Troubleshooting
Code, Session, SIM, or Account Errors
- “Connection Problem or Invalid MMI Code”:
- Cause: Weak reception, or a typo in the string.
- Fix: Check your signal bars, confirm
*120*2272#exactly, and redial. On a dual-SIM phone, select the SIM registered with Absa.
- “Session Timed Out”:
- Cause: A security timeout after roughly 20 seconds of inactivity.
- Fix: Redial
*120*2272#and answer the prompts faster.
- “User Profile / Number Not Recognised”:
- Cause: You dialled from an unregistered SIM, or your mobile number changed recently.
- Fix: Use the number on your Absa profile, or update your contact number at a branch.
- “Incorrect PIN / Account Locked”:
- Cause: A wrong 5-digit PIN, three times over.
- Fix: Reset the PIN by dialling
*120*2272#, choosing Option 1 (Reset PIN), and entering your SA ID or passport number to verify.
When the Service Has Changed or Is Unavailable
During operator outages, dialler faults, or extended maintenance, use one of the official Absa channels listed in the next section.
Official Alternatives
When USSD is unavailable, or when you need limits higher than cellphone banking allows:
- Absa Banking App: On Android and iOS. Handles facial biometrics, high-value EFTs, debit order reversals, and PDF proof of payment.
- Absa Online Banking: Full web banking at absa.co.za.
- Absa ATMs: Open 24/7 nationwide for withdrawals, deposits, PIN updates, and statements.
- Absa Telephone Banking: Call 08600 08600 for voice self-service or an agent.
Safety and Privacy
⚠️ Important Security Notice:
Absa will never ask you to disclose your 5-digit Cellphone Banking PIN, ATM card PIN, online password, CVV number, or full card details on an unsolicited call or pop-up.
- Never share your 5-digit USSD PIN with anyone, including someone claiming to be from the bank.
- Keep one-time PINs and SureCheck approvals strictly to yourself.
- If the phone is lost or stolen, call the Absa Fraud Hotline on 0800 11 11 55 or 08600 08600 straight away.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Absa code for cellphone banking?
The official Absa USSD code is *120*2272#. The digits 2272 spell ABSA on a phone keypad, which is why you will also see it written as *120*ABSA#.
Which customers or account types can use Absa USSD banking?
Any active Absa individual transactional, savings, or cheque account holder in South Africa with a registered SIM.
What tasks are available in the Absa USSD menu?
Balances, prepaid airtime and electricity, transfers, payments to registered beneficiaries, sending money by CashSend, DebiCheck mandates, PayShap payments, and Absa Rewards redemption.
What should I do if the Absa USSD route does not work?
Confirm you are on the registered SIM and have signal. If it keeps failing, reset your PIN through *120*2272# or switch to the Absa Banking App or Internet Banking.
