Help Center
How can we help?
Guides and answers for Pay, Money and POS — plus the account and verification questions that come up most.
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Getting started
Creating your NorthPole account
Sign up with your name, email, phone and a password, then supply your date of birth and address. Those last two are needed for identity verification and are asked for once.
Choosing what you're here to do
After signing in you pick Money, Pay or POS. This only sets where you land — one account reaches all three, and you can switch at any time.
Verifying your identity
Verification uses your BVN or NIN. The name and date of birth you entered at sign-up must match that record exactly, or the check will fail.
Why verification is required
The licensed partners that hold funds are obliged to verify account holders. Until verification completes you cannot hold a balance or transact.
NorthPole Pay
Getting your API keys
Keys are in the dashboard, separate for test and live mode. Test keys only touch test data, so you can build the whole integration before any real money moves.
Taking your first payment
Use a payment link or hosted checkout to collect without writing payment code, then move to the API when you want the flow inside your own product.
Verifying a payment before you fulfil
Always confirm server-side. A webhook is a prompt, not proof — the verification call is the authoritative answer on whether a payment succeeded.
Understanding settlements and fees
Each transaction records gross amount, fee and net settled amount, so what arrives in your balance always reconciles against what you charged.
NorthPole Money
Sending and receiving money
Send to any Nigerian bank account or to another NorthPole user. Transfers between NorthPole accounts settle instantly.
Exchanging naira and dollars
You see the rate, the fee and the exact amount that will arrive before you confirm. Nothing about the cost is discovered afterwards.
Using your virtual USD card
Create a virtual dollar card for supported international merchants. Acceptance depends on the merchant and the card network.
Reading your transaction history
Every entry carries a reference, a fee and a status. You can search, filter and export the record.
NorthPole POS
What device do I need?
A supported Android phone. QR and bank transfer work on any supported device; Tap-to-Pay additionally needs NFC hardware.
Taking a QR payment
Enter the amount and show the code. The customer scans with any bank app and the sale confirms on your device before they leave.
Confirming a bank transfer
Each sale is issued its own one-time account number, so the incoming transfer is matched automatically. You never need to check a screenshot.
Letting staff take payments
Taking a payment and moving money out are separate permissions. Staff can complete sales without seeing your balance or initiating transfers.
Account & security
Resetting your password
Request a reset link from the login page. Links are single-use and expire shortly, so request a fresh one if it has been sitting in your inbox.
Your transaction PIN
A separate PIN authorises money movement, so a session alone is not enough to move funds. Set it up before your first transfer.
Signed in on another device
NorthPole detects an existing active session and tells you the device, IP and start time, so an unexpected session is visible rather than silent.
If you think your account is compromised
Change your password immediately and write to support. NorthPole will never ask you for your password, PIN or one-time code.
This is a summary Help Center. For API behaviour, request and response shapes and error codes, the documentation is the authoritative source.
Common questions.
Is NorthPole a bank?
No. NorthPole is a technology company. Regulated financial services — including holding deposits and issuing cards — are provided by licensed partners, and customer funds sit with those partners rather than with NorthPole.
How long does verification take?
Most identity checks resolve quickly because they are verified against your BVN or NIN record automatically. If a check fails, the usual cause is a name or date of birth that does not match that record exactly — correct it and try again.
Why can't I hold a balance yet?
Holding a balance requires completed identity verification. This is a requirement of the licensed partners holding the funds, not a NorthPole preference, so it cannot be waived.
A payment succeeded but my balance hasn't changed.
Check whether the transaction shows as settled rather than only authorised — the two are different states. If it shows settled and the balance still looks wrong, write to support with the transaction reference.
Can I use one account for both personal and business money?
One login reaches all three products, but the balances are distinct. Personal money sits in Money while business takings sit in Pay or POS, so your own funds and your business's funds are never mixed.
How do I close my account?
Write to support from the email address on the account. Move out any remaining balance first, and note that transaction records are retained for the period financial regulations require even after closure.
Still have a question? Talk to us.
Still stuck? Talk to a person.
If your question is about your specific account, a transaction or a settlement, write to us with the reference and we will look at it directly.
NorthPole will never ask for your password, PIN or one-time code.