What Is an eWallet Number and How Do You Get One? (2026)
Surprise: an eWallet number isn't a special number at all — it's just the cellphone number the money was sent to. Here's how to access it with *120*277#, where to spend it, and what an eWallet can't do.
An eWallet number isn't a special number you register for — it's simply the South African cellphone number the money is sent to. If someone sent you an FNB eWallet, your "eWallet number" is your own phone number, and you access the money by dialling *120*277# on that phone. Searching because you need an account number for a salary or EFT? An eWallet doesn't have one — further down, what to use instead.
What Exactly Is an eWallet Number?
FNB's eWallet is a send-money service: a bank customer sends cash to any valid SA cellphone number, and a temporary wallet is created against that number. The cellphone number is the identifier — there's no separate card number, no account number, and nothing to set up in advance.
That design is what makes the service work for people without bank accounts, but it also causes the confusion this article exists to clear up: an eWallet is a voucher tied to a phone number, not an account. The money in it even has a shelf life — unclaimed funds go back to the sender after about two weeks, something we've unpacked in detail in how long an eWallet takes to expire.
How to "Get" an eWallet Number
There's nothing to apply for. The checklist is short:
- Have a valid South African cellphone number — prepaid or contract, any network.
- Give that number to the sender. They send money from their banking app to your number.
- Wait for the SMS. It confirms money has arrived and how to access it.
- Dial *120*277# on that phone to view the balance, generate a cash-out PIN, or send money onward.
The wallet is created automatically on the first transfer. If the SMS never arrives but the sender swears the money left their account, don't panic — here's what to check when money hasn't arrived.
The Codes Worth Saving
| Code / channel | What it does |
|---|---|
| *120*277# | Access your eWallet: balance, cash-out PIN, resetting your PIN |
| *130*277# | Same menu, works when you have no airtime — also used to verify that an eWallet SMS is genuine |
| WhatsApp 087 392 5538 | FNB's eWallet channel for balance, PIN and queries |
A safety note that matters in 2026: fake "eWallet received" SMSes are a common scam, often used as false proof of payment. The bank never sends payment confirmations from a personal mobile number — if an SMS looks off, verify the balance yourself by dialling *120*277# before handing over any goods. And never share a cash-out PIN or OTP with anyone.
Where the Cash Actually Comes Out
With a valid PIN from the USSD menu, eWallet cash can be withdrawn at FNB ATMs and at major retail tills — Pick n Pay, Checkers, Shoprite, Usave, PEP and Ackermans — and spent on fuel at Shell, Sasol, Engen and TotalEnergies forecourts. The PIN itself is short-lived (16 hours), but your money stays put; just generate a new PIN if it lapses.
Where the Number Runs Out
Three things matter more than the codes above, and they're the reason this article exists:
- It can't receive EFTs. No account number means payroll, SARS refunds and debit orders have nowhere to point. Nobody can "pay into" your eWallet except by sending a new person-to-person transfer.
- It isn't a place to keep money. Unclaimed transfers return to the sender after about two weeks, and the balance is capped at R14,000.
- It has running costs for the sender. Every transfer carries a fee — fine occasionally, expensive as a monthly routine.
For receiving money now and then, none of this matters much. For getting paid, it matters a lot.
Need an Actual Account Number? There's a Better Tool
If you landed here looking for a number an employer can pay a salary into, what you need isn't an eWallet — it's an account with its own account number and payment reference. That's a different category of product, and you don't need a traditional bank to get one: a SOLmate account opens with just a South African ID, foreign passport or asylum documentation, no work permit needed, and gives you a real account number that accepts EFTs.
From there, your salary lands by normal EFT, nothing expires, and you spend with a Mastercard debit card or cash out at the same retailers you already know. The eWallet stays what it's best at — a quick way to send cash to any phone number — and your own money finally gets a permanent address.
Sources: FNB eWallet official page, FNB eWallet Product Guidelines. FNB details as published in July 2026 — always confirm current rules and fees with your provider. Facts re-checked against SOLmate product pages (/fees, /open-account, /help/receive-salary-or-payments) on 24 September 2026. SOLmate is not a bank. SOLmate (SOL Ecosystem (Pty) Ltd) is an authorised financial services provider (FSP No. 52248) and registered credit provider (NCRCP16037).
