Verification & limits · 4 min read
Verifying your identity with BVN, NIN and a selfie
What we ask for, why, and how the live selfie check works.
Nigerian law requires us to know who holds every account. Verification protects you too: nobody can open Rainpay in your name or move your money from a strange device.
What you will be asked for
- Your BVN or NIN — we keep only the last four digits.
- Your date of birth and full name as they appear on that record.
- A live selfie taken in the app, matched against the photo held on your record.
- For higher tiers: a government ID and proof of address.
The live selfie check
- 1Tap Start selfie check. Allow the camera when your phone asks.
- 2Sit in decent light with nothing covering your face.
- 3Follow the prompts: look straight, turn your head, then smile.
- 4We accept only a live face — a printed photo or a picture held up to the screen is refused.
No working camera? There is a fallback on the verification page. If the check keeps failing, write to compliance@rainpay.ng with your registered email and we will look at it by hand.
Is my BVN safe with Rainpay?
Your BVN is sent straight to our licensed verification partner and is never stored in full. Only the last four digits are kept, and a BVN can never be used to move money out of your bank accounts.
My name does not match
Enter your name exactly as it appears on your BVN or NIN record, including middle names, and check your date of birth. If the record itself is wrong, your bank or NIMC must correct it first.
Rainpay is a financial technology company and is not a bank. Banking, payment and deposit services are provided by licensed financial institutions and licensed payment service providers regulated by the Central Bank of Nigeria, currently Beamer Microfinance Bank, Platnova and Red Biller Technologies.