Welcome to Kuda. If you just created a new account and got your account number, there’s a short 24 hour window where some transaction limits apply. This is a CBN rule and it affects all newly created accounts. No stress, it’s temporary, and once the 24 hours pass, things go back to normal.
When does the 24 hours start?
It starts immediately your account is created and an account number is assigned.
Not when you first log in
Not when you first add money
Not when you make your first transfer
Think of it like a timer that starts the moment the account is born.
The simple rule (in everyday language)
In your first 24 hours, you have two separate buckets.
Bucket 1: Money coming in (Inflow)
You can receive up to ₦20,000 total in the first 24 hours.
Bucket 2: Money going out (Outflow)
You can send up to ₦20,000 total in the first 24 hours.
Important detail: these buckets are independent.
So receiving money does not reduce what you can send, and sending money does not reduce what you can receive.
That means you can do ₦20,000 in and ₦20,000 out within the same 24 hours.
One more thing about card funding
Card funding is not available in the first 24 hours.
If you try it during this period, it will not work.
Bank transfer inflows within the limit will still work.
What you may notice (and why it’s happening)
During this window, some transactions may be blocked or rejected if they push you above the allowed totals. If that happens, the simplest fix is to wait until the 24 hours is complete, then try again.
Real-life scenarios (so it’s crystal clear)
Scenario 1: “Someone wants to send me ₦25,000”
If someone tries to send ₦25,000 at once, it may fail because your total inflow limit for the first 24 hours is ₦20,000.
What to do instead; Receive ₦20,000 first, then receive the remaining ₦5,000 after the 24 hours ends.
Scenario 2: “I received ₦15,000, then another ₦10,000”
Your first ₦15,000 can go through.
Your next ₦10,000 may fail because that would make your inflow total ₦25,000 within the first 24 hours.
What to do instead; Wait until the 24 hours ends to receive the extra ₦10,000, or keep your total inflow within ₦20,000 during that period.
Scenario 3: “I received ₦20,000 and I still want to transfer ₦20,000”
This can work because inflow and outflow are separate buckets.
So ₦20,000 received plus ₦20,000 sent is allowed within the first 24 hours.
Scenario 4: “I transferred ₦18,000, then tried to transfer ₦5,000”
Your ₦18,000 transfer may go through.
Your ₦5,000 transfer may fail because that would make your outflow total ₦23,000 in the first 24 hours.
What to do instead; Send only ₦2,000 more (to stay within ₦20,000), then send the remaining ₦3,000 after the 24 hours ends.
Scenario 5: “I want to fund my account with my card”
Card funding will not work in the first 24 hours, so the attempt will fail.
What to do instead; Use a bank transfer, but keep your total inflow within ₦20,000 during the first 24 hours.
FAQs
Does the 24 hour timer start after verification?
No. It starts from the moment the account is created and your account number is assigned.
Can I do multiple small transfers instead of one big one?
Yes. You can do many transactions, as long as the total inflow stays within ₦20,000 and the total outflow stays within ₦20,000 in your first 24 hours.
What happens if I exceed the limit?
The transaction may be blocked or rejected during the 24 hour window. Once the 24 hours is complete, you can try again.
If I receive ₦20,000, does that mean I can’t send money?
You can still send money. Inflow and outflow are tracked separately. You can receive up to ₦20,000 total and send up to ₦20,000 total within the same first 24 hours.
Is card funding allowed during the first 24 hours?
No. Card funding is not available in the first 24 hours for newly created accounts.
After 24 hours, do I need to do anything to remove the limit?
No. The restriction lifts automatically after the 24 hours passes.
Quick recap
The first 24 hours starts immediately your account is created
You can receive up to ₦20,000 total in that period
You can send up to ₦20,000 total in that period
Receiving and sending are separate, so you can do both within the limits
Card funding does not work in the first 24 hours
After 24 hours, everything returns to normal automatically