Difference Between SMS Alert and Email Alert Charges
Two common notification channels offered by Nigerian banks are SMS alerts and email alerts. While both serve the same core purpose — keeping you informed about account activity — they differ significantly in how banks charge for them, their delivery, costs, and practical implications for bank customers.
In today’s fast-paced digital economy, real-time notifications from your bank account are crucial for financial control, security, and transparency.
This article explores difference and highlights recent development in Nigeria bank charges and offer insights to help you make smarter financial decisions.
SMS Alerts
Short Message Service alerts are text messages sent directly to your mobile phone whenever there is a transaction on your bank account — including withdrawals, deposits, transfers, debit card usage, and balance changes. These alerts are sent through the telecommunications networks and are designed for instant delivery.
With the (SMS) infrastructure, banks pay telecom operators to send these messages on your behalf, and this cost is often passed on to customers.
Email Alerts
Email alerts are notifications sent to your email address when transactions occur. They serve the same monitoring purpose as SMS alerts but are delivered via the internet rather than the telecom SMS network. Many banks bundle email notifications with their online banking services.
Email alerts typically include more detailed information about the transaction, and — critically — are free in most Nigerian banks.
Recent Changes in SMS Alert Charges in Nigeria
From May 1, 2025, Nigerian banks began charging customers ₦6 per SMS alert for transaction notifications — a 50% increase from the previous ₦4 rate. This change follows the Federal Government’s approval of higher telecom tariffs, which led mobile network operators to raise SMS costs. Banks responded by adjusting alert fees accordingly.
For example:
Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) notified customers of the hike from ₦4 to ₦6 per message, attributing the change to increased telecom rates.
Union Bank, Fidelity Bank, Ecobank and others implemented similar changes, all citing the telecom cost increases as the reason.
Today, each SMS alert you receive for a debit or credit transaction could deduct money from your account — adding up significantly over time for active account holders.
Do Banks Charge for Email Alerts?
Unlike SMS alerts, email alerts are typically free across Nigerian banks. According to banking guidelines and tariff documents, banks charge for SMS notifications (as cost recovery) but email notifications are provided at no cost.
For instance:
- First Bank Nigeria advertise email alerts as a free notification service alongside charged SMS alerts.
- Central Bank of Nigeria’s published tariff templates show SMS alerts can attract charges (up to regulated limits), while email notifications are explicitly listed as “No Charge.
- The practical implication is clear: switching from SMS to email alerts can help you avoid recurring SMS costs without sacrificing the ability to monitor your account.
How These Charges Affect the Average Nigerian
For salary earners, business owners, traders, and students who move money frequently, SMS alert charges can quietly drain funds.
Imagine this:
- You receive alerts for incoming transfers
- Alerts for outgoing transfers
- Alerts for POS transactions
- Alerts for ATM withdrawals
At ₦6 per alert, 10 transactions a day equals ₦60. Over a month, that’s close to ₦1,800 — just for alerts.Many Nigerians only realize this when they review their account statements and see repeated “SMS Alert Charge” deductions.
This is why more customers are now switching off SMS alerts and relying on email notifications or bank app alerts instead.
How to Reduce Alert Costs
- Switch to Email Alerts: Contact your bank or update your alert preferences via online banking to receive email alerts instead of SMS. Most banks allow this at no charge.
- Use Mobile App Push Notifications: Many Nigerian banks offer mobile app notifications which are free, real-time, and detailed. These also avoid per-SMS charges.
- Consolidate Alerts: Some banks allow you to limit notifications to essential transactions only, reducing the number of messages you receive.
Understanding the difference between SMS alert charges and email alert charges can help you manage your finances better and avoid unnecessary fees. SMS alerts deliver real-time security but can cost you per message — especially after recent increases in Nigeria.
Email alerts offer a free, secure, and convenient alternative that most customers should consider to keep costs low. As digital banking evolves, being proactive about how you receive transaction notifications can make a big difference in your monthly banking expenses and overall financial health.
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