Last checked: 26 June 2026
Quick Code/Menu Answer
To buy data with bank USSD, dial your bank’s cellphone banking code, sign in with your cellphone banking PIN, choose Buy, Prepaid, Quick Buy, or Airtime/Data, then select the data bundle you want before confirming the purchase.
The exact menu wording depends on your bank. Some banks publish a clear data bundle path, while others publish the main cellphone banking code and tell users to follow the live prompts. Always use the menu shown on your phone, and confirm the cellphone number, network, bundle size, validity period and amount before accepting the transaction.
| Bank | USSD code to start | Data-buying route to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Absa | *120*2272# | Select Prepaid and follow the prompts for airtime, data or SMS bundles. Absa warns that prepaid transactions are not reversible, so the number must be correct before confirming. (Absa) |
| Capitec | *120*3279# | Choose Buy, then Airtime, Data Bundle or SMS Bundle. Capitec also says *120*3279# can be used to buy airtime and bundles. (Capitec Bank) |
| FNB | *120*321#or *130*321# | Select Buy to purchase airtime, data, voice or SMS bundles. FNB also lists Cellphone Banking as a channel for buying prepaid airtime, SMS and data bundles. (recharge.fnb.co.za) |
| Nedbank | *120*001# | Choose Quick Buy, then Airtime, data & SMS, or log in and choose Buy, then Airtime, data & SMS. (Nedbank) |
| Standard Bank | *120*2345# | Use Cellphone Banking to buy data, airtime and other prepaid services. Standard Bank says no smartphone or data is needed for cellphone banking. (Standard Bank) |
| GoTyme Bank | *120*543# | Use USSD to buy airtime, data, SMS bundles and electricity. GoTyme also lists *130*543# for buying airtime when you do not have airtime. (GoTyme Bank) |
For broader bank menu codes, use banking USSD codes South Africa. If you want to buy data directly from MTN, Vodacom, Telkom, Cell C or another mobile network instead of using your bank account, use buy data USSD code.
Provider-by-Provider Options
Absa
Use *120*2272# if you are registered for Absa Cellphone Banking. Absa says users can dial *120*2272#, select Prepaid, and follow the prompts to buy prepaid airtime and data. Absa also lists Cellphone Banking as a way to buy prepaid airtime, data and SMS bundles. (Absa)
Before confirming, check the recipient number and network carefully. Absa’s prepaid page states that the transaction is not reversible, and it warns users to make sure the correct number is used. (Absa)
Capitec
Use *120*3279# to buy data through Capitec Mobile Banking. Capitec’s published steps say to dial *120*3279#, choose Buy, choose Airtime, Data Bundle or SMS Bundle, select the account, select the network provider, choose the bundle period, enter or choose the cellphone number, and confirm with your Mobile Banking PIN. (Capitec Bank)
Capitec also publishes a no-airtime route for airtime: *130*3279#. For bundles, Capitec says users can dial *120*3279# to buy airtime and bundles. (Capitec Bank)
FNB
Use FNB Cellphone Banking if you want to buy data from an FNB account. FNB lists Cellphone Banking as a way to buy prepaid airtime, SMS and data bundles, and its recharge page says users can dial *130*321# or *120*321# and select Buy to purchase airtime, data, voice or SMS bundles. (FNB)
FNB also says you can buy airtime or data for yourself or someone else, and that you do not need airtime to buy airtime when using *130*321#. (FNB)
Nedbank
Use *120*001# for Nedbank Cellphone Banking. Nedbank’s official guide gives two routes: dial *120*001# and choose Quick Buy, then Airtime, data & SMS; or dial *120*001#, log in, choose Buy, and select Airtime, data & SMS. (Nedbank)
Nedbank also describes Cellphone Banking as a way to buy prepaid data, airtime, electricity or gift vouchers from your phone. (Nedbank)
Standard Bank
Use *120*2345# for Standard Bank Cellphone Banking. Standard Bank says this code gives access to bank accounts and can be used to buy data, pay bills and make payments. It also says cellphone banking works on any cellphone with no smartphone or data needed. (Standard Bank)
Standard Bank also publishes *130*2345# as a cellphone banking access code in its safety guidance. Use the live menu on your phone and look for the prepaid or data option before confirming. (Standard Bank)
GoTyme Bank
Use *120*543# for GoTyme Bank USSD. GoTyme says users can buy airtime, data, SMS bundles and electricity through USSD, and it publishes *130*543# for buying airtime when you do not have airtime. (GoTyme Bank)
GoTyme also says USSD can be used on any cellphone without Wi-Fi or data, which makes it useful when you need to buy data but cannot access the banking app. (GoTyme Bank)
Step-by-Step Instructions
Requirements
Before using a bank data purchase code, make sure you have:
- The cellphone number registered for your bank’s cellphone banking service.
- Your cellphone banking PIN.
- Enough money in the bank account you want to use.
- The correct recipient cellphone number.
- The correct network for that number.
- A clear idea of the bundle you want, including size, price and validity period.
- Enough signal to keep the USSD session open until confirmation.
Do not start the purchase if you are unsure whether the number is Vodacom, MTN, Telkom, Cell C, Rain, FNB Connect, Capitec Connect, Melon Mobile, Mr Price Mobile or another provider. If the number has been ported, the old network may not be the correct choice.
Step-by-step process
- Dial your bank’s USSD code.
- Enter your cellphone banking PIN if asked.
- Choose the closest option to Buy, Prepaid, Quick Buy, Airtime and data, or Airtime, data & SMS.
- Select Data, Data bundle, or a combined airtime/data bundle option.
- Choose the account you want to pay from.
- Select the mobile network if the menu asks for it.
- Enter the cellphone number that must receive the data.
- Choose the bundle amount or validity period.
- Read the confirmation screen carefully.
- Confirm only if the number, network, bundle and amount are correct.
- Wait for the bank confirmation and the network confirmation SMS.
What you should see next
After a successful bank data purchase, you should normally see a USSD confirmation screen or receive an SMS from the bank, mobile network, or both. The data bundle may reflect quickly, but you should still check the balance before streaming, hotspotting, downloading large files or relying on the bundle for work.
If your bank account is debited but the data does not appear, do not immediately repeat the same purchase. First check the number, network, SMS confirmation and data balance. If the bundle still does not reflect, contact the bank or mobile provider with the transaction time, amount, recipient number and any reference number you received.
Fees or limits
Do not assume that every bank USSD data purchase is free. Some banks publish a no-airtime shortcut for airtime purchases, while others say normal mobile network charges may apply. Standard Bank says no smartphone or data is needed for cellphone banking, and GoTyme publishes a USSD rate of 20c per 20 seconds. (Standard Bank)
Daily limits, bundle availability, service charges and supported networks can change. Treat the live USSD confirmation screen as the final check before you accept.
Common Problems and Fixes
The USSD code does not work
Check that you dialled the full code, including the opening * and closing #. If the session fails, move to an area with better signal and try again. If it still fails, use your bank’s app, online banking, ATM, branch, or official support channel.
The menu does not match the article
Banks update USSD menus from time to time. If the menu wording has changed, follow the current on-screen wording instead of forcing an old step. Look for options such as Buy, Prepaid, Airtime, Data, Bundles, Quick Buy, or Airtime, data & SMS.
The bank asks for a PIN
Only enter your PIN if you personally dialled the official bank USSD code. Do not enter your cellphone banking PIN after following a link in an SMS, WhatsApp message, social post or advert. Standard Bank’s cellphone safety guidance tells users not to store banking credentials on the phone and not to respond to calls or messages asking for personal banking information. (Standard Bank)
You bought for the wrong number
If you have not confirmed yet, cancel the session and start again. If you already confirmed, contact your bank or network, but do not assume the transaction can be reversed. Absa specifically states that prepaid transactions are not reversible. (Absa)
You selected the wrong network
Cancel before confirming if the network is wrong. If the purchase has already gone through, the data may not reach the intended number. This is especially important for ported numbers, where the number may look familiar but now belongs to a different network.
The data has not reflected
Wait for the confirmation SMS and check your balance using the mobile network’s balance option. If the data still does not show, contact the bank or network with the transaction details. Avoid repeating the purchase until you know whether the first one failed or is only delayed.
You do not have airtime to open the banking menu
Some banks offer no-airtime or airtime top-up strings. Capitec lists *130*3279# for airtime, FNB lists *130*321# for buying airtime without airtime, Standard Bank publishes *130*2345#, and GoTyme lists *130*543# for buying airtime when you do not have airtime. (Capitec Bank)
These shortcuts may not all buy data directly. Use them to restore airtime or access the correct banking route, then follow the live menu.
The USSD session times out
USSD sessions can expire if you take too long. Before dialling, have the recipient number, network and bundle amount ready. If the session times out before confirmation, start again. Only treat the purchase as successful once you see a confirmation screen or receive a confirmation SMS.
The wrong balance shows after buying data
Check whether the bundle was loaded as promotional data, night data, social data, app-specific data, or normal anytime data. Also check whether the bundle has a short validity period. If the bank confirmation shows one thing but the network balance shows another, contact the provider with the exact transaction details.
Related Airtime and Data Guides
Use these related guides when your next step is slightly different from buying data with bank USSD:
- Banking USSD codes South Africa — use this when you need your bank’s main cellphone banking code.
- Buy data USSD code — use this when you want mobile-network data codes instead of bank-account data purchases.
- Airtime and data USSD codes South Africa — use this for broader airtime, bundle, balance and recharge guides.
FAQs
What is the safest way to use buy data with bank USSD?
The safest way is to dial the official USSD code from your bank, use the cellphone number linked to your bank profile, and confirm the number, network, bundle and amount before accepting. Do not use codes from screenshots, comments or forwarded messages unless you have checked them against your bank’s official website or app.
What is the code for buy data with bank USSD?
The code depends on your bank. Common verified starting codes include Absa *120*2272#, Capitec *120*3279#, FNB *120*321#, Nedbank *120*001#, Standard Bank *120*2345#, and GoTyme Bank *120*543#. Use the live menu to choose Buy, Prepaid, Data, or Airtime, data & SMS.
Does buy data with bank USSD require airtime or mobile data?
Bank USSD does not require mobile data, but airtime or USSD session charges may depend on your bank and mobile network. Some banks publish no-airtime shortcuts for airtime top-ups, but you should check the current bank page or live menu before relying on a code.
Why might buy data with bank USSD fail?
It may fail because the code is old, the phone has poor signal, the session timed out, your bank profile is not registered, the account has insufficient funds, the number is wrong, the network was selected incorrectly, or the bank or network service is temporarily unavailable.
What should users do before confirming a purchase or transfer?
Before confirming, check the recipient number, mobile network, data bundle size, price, validity period and bank account. If anything looks wrong, cancel and start again. This is especially important because prepaid purchases may not be reversible once accepted.
Where can users find related airtime or data guides?
Use buy data USSD code for network data codes, banking USSD codes South Africa for bank cellphone banking menus, and airtime and data USSD codes South Africa for the broader airtime and bundle directory.