Banking

How to Reverse an FNB eWallet Payment in 2026

Sent money to the wrong cellphone number? You can still recover it — but only if the recipient hasn't withdrawn yet. Here's exactly what to do, in the order you should do it.

Updated 12 May 2026 • By Naledi van der Merwe • Fact-checked

Act in the next 5 minutes

Once the recipient withdraws the money — at an ATM, retailer or by spending from the eWallet — FNB cannot reverse it. They legally own the funds. The reversal window is the time between you sending and them collecting.

Method 1: FNB Banking App (fastest)

FNB eWallet reversal 5 step guide via banking app login transaction history cancel reverse — App method at a glance — full steps below.

This is the quickest way and works if the recipient hasn't withdrawn yet.

1
Open the FNB Banking App

Log in with your fingerprint, face ID or 5-digit PIN.
2
Tap "Send Money" or "Accounts"

Both routes work. From Accounts, select the account you sent the eWallet from.
3
Find your eWallet transaction

Go to Transaction History or "My eWallets". Recent sends appear at the top.
4
Tap the eWallet send you want to reverse

You'll see the details: amount, recipient cellphone number, status.
5
Look for the "Cancel" or "Reverse" button

If the money hasn't been withdrawn, you'll see a Cancel option. If you don't see it, the money has already been collected — see Method 4 below.
6
Confirm the reversal

The funds typically return to your account within a few minutes.

Method 2: FNB Cellphone Banking (no data needed)

No smartphone or data? Use FNB Cellphone Banking via USSD:

Dial from your linked cellphone:

*120*321#

Enter your 5-digit Cellphone Banking PIN.
Select "Send Money / eWallet".
Select "eWallet History" or "Cancel eWallet".
Pick the transaction, confirm cancellation.

Method 3: FNB Online Banking (web)

Log in to online.fnb.co.za.
Select the account that funded the eWallet.
Click "Send Money" → "eWallet".
Open "eWallet History".
Find the transaction, click Cancel.

Method 4: If the in-app cancel option is gone

If the Cancel button isn't visible on the transaction, it means the recipient has either already withdrawn the money or at least dialled the eWallet activation string (*120*277#). Try these in order:

Call FNB Cellphone Banking Help Desk: 0861 313 210 Have your account number, the eWallet recipient cellphone number and the transaction reference ready.
Email FNB Digital Recalls: fnbdigitalrecalls@fnb.co.za Subject: "Urgent eWallet recall". Include transaction date, amount, both cellphone numbers, and your ID number.
Visit a branch: Take ID, a transaction screenshot and the recipient's phone number. Branch staff can lodge a formal recall.

FNB targets a 5-working-day turnaround for digital recalls on FNB accounts. A fee applies whether the recall succeeds or not.

When reversal is impossible

FNB cannot reverse an eWallet once any of these have happened:

The recipient has withdrawn cash at an FNB ATM or partner retailer.
The recipient has bought prepaid airtime, data or electricity from the eWallet.
The recipient has sent the eWallet onwards to another cellphone.
The eWallet was emptied (R0 balance) for any reason.

Your options at this point: message the recipient and ask politely (the cellphone number you sent to is in your transaction history); if you believe it's fraud, open a SAPS case at your nearest station with a copy of the FNB transaction record.

eWallet limits and the 13-day auto-refund

Per FNB's eWallet Product Guidelines, the standard eWallet has these limits:

Max balance

R1,000

Daily limit

R1,000

Monthly cap

R25,000

Good news if the recipient simply never collects

If the eWallet remains untouched for 13 days from the date the recipient received the SMS, FNB automatically returns the money to your account. You don't need to do anything — but you also can't use those funds in the meantime, so reversing actively is still better.

Higher-limit eWallet Pro and eWallet eXtra accounts (linked to RICA-verified profiles) have larger thresholds — R5,000 / R30,000 monthly typically.

Reversing an eWallet at other banks

"eWallet" is FNB's brand name, but every major SA bank has an equivalent send-to-cellphone service. The golden rule is the same everywhere: you can only reverse it while the money is still uncollected. Once the recipient cashes out, the bank can't claw it back.

Bank	Service	How to reverse / cancel
FNB	eWallet	App or 120321# → eWallet → Cancel (see the steps above).
Absa	CashSend	Absa app or 1202272# → CashSend → cancel an uncollected voucher; the money returns to your account.
Standard Bank	Instant Money	Reverse an uncollected voucher in the app or by calling 0860 123 000 with the voucher details.
Capitec	Cash Send	Capitec app → the Cash Send transaction → cancel while unredeemed; funds are returned instantly.
Nedbank	Send-iMali	Money app or 120001# → cancel the unredeemed transfer to recover it.

Cancellation menus and USSD strings change from time to time — if the path differs in your app, call the bank's number above straight away, because the only thing that matters is acting before the recipient withdraws.

How to avoid sending to the wrong number

Save the recipient as a beneficiary in the FNB app. The app will warn you if the number doesn't match a saved contact.
Double-check the number on the confirmation screen — the FNB app shows the full digits, not just the last 4.
Send a R10 test first if you're unsure. Confirm receipt, then send the rest.
Watch for "SIM-swap" scams. If a contact suddenly messages you a new number asking for an eWallet, call them on the old number first to verify.

Frequently asked questions

Can I reverse an FNB eWallet payment?+

Only if the recipient hasn't withdrawn the money yet. Once a withdrawal happens at an ATM, retailer or via cellphone banking, the funds are gone and FNB cannot reverse them. Act within minutes of realising the mistake.

How long do I have to reverse an eWallet?+

There's no fixed cut-off — it's based on whether the recipient has accessed the eWallet. In practice, you have minutes to hours. If the eWallet is still untouched after 13 days, FNB automatically returns the money to the sender anyway.

How long does the reversal take to reflect?+

In-app cancellations that succeed reflect within minutes. Reversals handled by FNB's recall team can take up to 5 working days for FNB accounts and longer if cross-bank verification is needed.

Is there a fee to reverse an eWallet?+

In-app self-service cancellations (where the recipient hasn't touched the money yet) are typically free. Reversals handled by FNB's recall team carry a fee, charged regardless of whether the reversal succeeds.

What if the recipient has already withdrawn the money?+

FNB cannot legally reverse a completed withdrawal — the funds belong to the recipient at that point. Your options: contact the recipient directly and ask them to send the money back, or open a SAPS case if you suspect fraud. FNB's digital recalls team (fnbdigitalrecalls@fnb.co.za) can help with the paperwork but cannot recover the cash.

What if I sent it to a recipient who is no longer reachable?+

If the eWallet is unclaimed and untouched, the money returns to your account automatically after 13 days. If they've set an eWallet PIN but not withdrawn, you can still trigger a reversal via the app or by phoning the FNB Cellphone Banking Help Desk on 0861 313 210.

What are the FNB eWallet limits in 2026?+

eWallet can hold a maximum balance of R1,000 at any time, daily limit of R1,000, and monthly total of R25,000 in eWallet transactions. Higher-limit eWallet Pro and eWallet eXtra accounts have larger thresholds.

Sources

· FNB eWallet Service Product Guidelines (Section B–C, balance and transaction limits).
· FNB Reversal Process documentation, online.fnb.co.za.
· FNB Cellphone Banking Help Desk: 0861 313 210.
· FNB Digital Recalls: fnbdigitalrecalls@fnb.co.za.