With amount and merchant
[Code] is your [Bank] code to approve [Amount] at [Merchant]. It expires in 5 minutes. Never share it, not even with bank staff.
1 SMS segments · GSM-7 · 120 characters
SMSOTPBanking and finance · OTP and verification
Transaction verification code SMS template for banks (OTP)
Send it when a customer approves a payment, adds a beneficiary or changes account details. Naming the bank and the purpose, and warning that staff never ask for the code, helps customers spot phishing attempts.
Preview
Your brand
[Code] is your [Bank] verification code for [Purpose]. It expires in 5 minutes. Never share this code with anyone, including bank staff.
Variables are highlighted. Replace them with your own values before sending.
[Code] is your [Bank] verification code for [Purpose]. It expires in 5 minutes. Never share this code with anyone, including bank staff.
130 characters in GSM-7, which is 1 SMS segment(s). GSM-7 fits 160 characters in a single SMS, or 153 per segment when the message is split. Counts treat each [Placeholder] as text of similar length; check the final message once your real values are in.
Variables explained
What to put in each variable, with an example value.
| Variable | What it is | Example |
|---|---|---|
[Code] | The one-time code, usually 6 digits; keep it at the start so it shows in the notification | 604218 |
[Bank] | Bank name as customers know it | Gulf First Bank |
[Purpose] | What the code approves, in a few words | adding a new beneficiary |
Category and compliance notes
OTP SMS: name the brand, state the expiry, never put the code inside a link and send from a sender ID registered for transactional or OTP traffic so it is delivered 24/7.
Promotional sending hours differ by country, and some regulators also set Ramadan hours.Sender ID rules by countryPlan the send time
Variations
Alternative versions of the same message, following the same channel rules.
Shorter version
[Bank]: [Code] is your verification code. Valid for 5 min. Do not share it.
1 SMS segments · GSM-7 · 71 characters
With not-you warning
[Code] is your [Bank] code for [Purpose]. Valid for 5 minutes. Did not request it? Call [Phone] now. Never share this code.
1 SMS segments · GSM-7 · 115 characters
How to use this template
- 1
Copy the text
Copy the message and keep the brand name at the start so the recipient knows who is writing.
- 2
Replace the placeholders
Map each [Placeholder] to a field in your contact list or system, keeping the message short.
- 3
Check length and encoding
Paste the final text into the SMS counter to see the segments you will pay for.
- 4
Send from a registered sender ID
Use a sender ID registered for this traffic type in each destination country.
Questions about this template
How many SMS segments is this message?
1 segment(s): the text has 130 characters in GSM-7. GSM-7 fits 160 characters in a single SMS, or 153 per segment when the message is split.
Is this promotional or transactional SMS?
Transactional (OTP). One-time passcodes are delivered 24/7 and should use a sender ID registered for OTP or transactional traffic.
When can I send this message?
Any time. Transactional and OTP messages are delivered 24/7; time-of-day windows such as 07:00–21:00 in the UAE or 09:00–22:00 in Saudi Arabia apply to promotional traffic.
Is this template available in other languages?
Yes. It is written natively in English, French, Spanish, German, Arabic, Portuguese, Turkish, and Simplified Chinese, so the Arabic and other versions read as original messages, not translations.