What is Unstructured Supplementary Services Data or USSD?

The state-of-the-art payment service *99# works on the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) channel. This service allows mobile banking transactions using the basic feature of mobile phones, there is no need to have a mobile internet data facility for using USSD based mobile banking. The above service is intended to take the banking services to every common man across the country. It is planned to provide financial deepening and inclusion of underbanked society in the mainstream banking services.

Banks started offering mobile banking services to their customers using the USSD channel through bilateral tieups with individual telecom providers. However, a common platform offering USSD-based mobile payments services was set-up through NPCI in 2013, to avoid the need for multiple bilateral tie-ups and to ensure interoperability across banks and telecom providers. A “Common number *99# across all Telecom Service Providers (TSPs)” on their mobile phone and transact through an interactive menu displayed on the mobile screen. [The terms telecommunications service provider (TSP) generally referred to BSNL/MTNL excluding Internet service providers (ISPs), cable television companies, satellite TV, and managed service providers]. As of 30.11.2016, the *99# service has been offered by 51 leading banks & all GSM service providers. The service can be accessed in 12 different languages (Source: NPCI).

The key services provided by *99# service includes;

    Interbank account to account fund transfer

    Balance enquiry

    Mini statement besides host of other services

The customer who wants to avail of the facility shall register for USSD with his/her bank. Once the registration is successful the customers will then receive the registration information along with MMID (Mobile Money identifier) and MPIN (Mobile banking Personal Identification Number). MMID is a 7 digit number associated with an account maintained with Bank. Note: MMID generated for accounts are permanent and cannot be changed at any point in time. The customer upon dialing to *99# from his/her registered phone number (feature/basic) or smartphones), the prompt displayed to enter MMID and MPIN then he/she may go for the required transaction.

With the launch of USSD 2.0 along with BHIM on December 30, 2016, UPI is now available for non-internet-based mobile devices (smartphones as well as basic phones) in the form of a dialing option (*99#). Currently, financial, non-financial, and certain value-added services (Aadhaar linking status & PMJDY A/C Overdraft Status) are offered through this service. The USSD has since been subsumed into the broader UPI platform.