A Conversation with Isaac Birigwa, Head of Cards and Payments at dfcu Bank has revamped its *USSD 240# platform, making banking easier, faster, and more inclusive for Ugandans. With no need for smartphones, internet, or airtime, customers can check balances, transfer money, pay bills, buy airtime, apply for loans, and manage accounts from anywhere in the country.
We sat down with Isaac Birigwa, Head of Cards and Payments at dfcu Bank, to unpack how *240# is transforming financial access.
Q: What exactly is *240#, and why is it important?
Birigwa: *240# is dfcu’s mobile banking service for any account holder with a basic phone. It runs on USSD, so customers don’t need internet or a smartphone. From balance checks and bill payments to airtime top-ups and instant loans, services are available 24/7. In Uganda — where rural populations remain underserved — *240# is breaking barriers to financial inclusion.
Q: What’s new in the revamped version?
Birigwa: We redesigned the platform after listening to customers. The menus are now faster and easier, with up to 40% fewer steps. It supports multiple local languages, self-registration, and added services like Mobi Loans, standing orders, approvals, and float purchases. Best of all, it’s zero-rated — no airtime or data required.
Q: What services can customers access?
Birigwa: Nearly everything. Account management, transfers to banks and mobile wallets, bill payments for utilities, TV, and schools, airtime and data bundles, plus loan applications and repayments. Business services like float purchases and approvals are also included. It’s a full suite of retail and SME banking, right from a handset.
Q: Who qualifies, and how do you register?
Birigwa: Any dfcu savings or current account holder qualifies. Registration is self-service: dial *240#, select your language, accept terms, enter your account and ID details, then create a 5-digit M-PIN. Within minutes, your account is linked and ready.
Q: How does this support financial inclusion?
Birigwa: The biggest barrier to banking is access. *240# runs on GSM networks and works in rural areas with limited connectivity. By eliminating the need for smartphones or airtime, and by offering services in local languages, we’re ensuring that no customer is left behind.
Q: Why should every dfcu customer activate *240#?
Birigwa: Because it puts banking in your pocket. You can complete 90% of transactions without visiting a branch — loans, payments, transfers, everything — securely and instantly. Wherever you are in Uganda, *240# makes banking simple, affordable, and available anytime.
