United Bank for Africa (UBA) and Airtel have partnered to launch mobile-based financial services across Africa through Airtel Money.
The services include International Money Transfer services, Mobile Banking, Super Agency Services, and Payment Cards for their customers. The partnership will also facilitate cardless withdrawal services at ATMs, Mobile Savings and Loans.
The deal will be used in 12 countries in Africa which include Nigeria, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone, Gabon, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Chad and Zambia, Congo Brazzaville and Congo DRC.
According to Kennedy Uzoka, Group DMD and CEO, UBA Africa, “We are very excited about this partnership with Airtel that will see the introduction of innovative solutions in the e-commerce space in Africa. The rich bouquet of mobile-based services which we will be introducing under the partnership will not only support financial inclusion across Africa, it will also improve trade and break barriers of doing business on the continent.”
UBA operates in 19 African countries while Airtel has presence in 17 African countries with over 30m registered mobile money customers, the deal is relevant to customers with the objective of driving convenience to their combined over 30m+ registered customers.
Commenting on the partnership, Chidi Okpala, Director and Africa Head, Airtel Money said: “We have chosen to partner UBA in providing this service across Africa because of its pan-Africa spread, leadership in innovation and Retail Banking, and shared presence in 12 African countries. We are confident that this partnership will fast track our aspiration to deepen access to financial services, create cash-lite ecosystems and reduce cost of transactions across Africa.”