How to send money to someone with just their phone number
No account number, no bank name, and they do not need Kolet. Send to the WhatsApp number, they get a message, and they collect it to any bank or keep it on Kolet. Unclaimed after 24 hours, you are refunded.
Asking someone for their account number and bank, then typing ten digits correctly, is the slowest part of sending money. If you have their phone number, you can skip all of it.
Send to the number
Send 5k to 08034452210
Kolet treats a phone number differently from an account number, and says so before you confirm:
You're about to send ₦5,000.00 to: +2348034452210 This is a Phone Transfer, not a direct bank transfer. They'll receive a message to claim this. If unclaimed in 24 hours, you get a full refund. Should I proceed?
Confirm, and from ₦5,000 approve with your PIN on the secure page.
What the other person sees
They get a WhatsApp message from Kolet, whether or not they have ever heard of it:
💸 ₦5,000.00 sent to you by Tunde! Tap the button below to collect your money into your bank account. This link expires in 24 hours.
Two buttons: keep it in Kolet, which opens an account for them in the chat, or collect it to a bank, where they give an account number and the money is paid out.
Already on Kolet?
Then there is no claim step. If the number belongs to a Kolet user, the money lands in their balance instantly and free, and the confirmation card tells you that before you confirm.
Wrong number? Cancel it
Until the person collects, the money is held, not paid out. Say "cancel that" or "wrong number" and Kolet shows you the pending send with a Cancel button. The refund is immediate. If nobody collects within 24 hours, the refund happens by itself.
International numbers
The number does not have to be Nigerian. A UK or US WhatsApp number works the same way; the person collects to a Nigerian bank account or keeps the money on Kolet.
Common questions
- Does the other person need a Kolet account?
- No. They get a message with a link and choose to collect to any bank account or to keep the money on Kolet.
- What happens if they never collect?
- After 24 hours the full amount comes back to your balance automatically.
- Can I cancel after sending?
- Yes, any time before they collect. Say cancel in the chat and tap the Cancel button on the card.
- Is there a fee?
- Sending to a phone number is free when the person is on Kolet or keeps it on Kolet. The usual bank charges apply only when money leaves to a bank.