[dropcap]N[/dropcap]igerians can avoid paying the new ₦6 SMS alert fee by switching to free email notifications or using smarter banking options.
Also read: Wema Bank celebrates 80th anniversary, receives national commendation
On May 1, 2025, Nigerian bank users woke up to a new deduction; an increase in SMS alert charges from ₦5 to ₦6.
Leading banks like GTBank and Zenith Bank implemented the new rate, drawing public anger over yet another cost to banking.
But Wema Bank took a softer approach.
In honour of its 80th anniversary, the bank announced it would absorb the ₦2 increase for its customers during the first eight days of May.
This means customers will pay just ₦4 per SMS alert during that grace period, while still enjoying real-time notifications.
Still, if you’re looking for a way to permanently avoid the rising SMS costs, you can simply switch to free email notifications.
This can be done through your bank’s app or by visiting any branch. Email alerts offer real-time updates at zero cost, making them a smart alternative to SMS.
That said, SMS alerts remain vital; especially for debit transactions.
They help customers spot fraud or unauthorised debits instantly, a feature that email notifications might not match in terms of speed and visibility.
Also read: Wema Bank reports record growth in 2024: profit soars 135%, assets up 60%
So, while banks continue to adjust fees, you don’t have to sit back and keep paying more. Choose the alert system that suits your pocket and still keeps your account safe.
Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator and a recipient of the D9112 Superstar Icon Award, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.
