Waya, a full-service digital bank and money transfer app for African immigrants is set to launch in Washington, DC on 16th September 2022.
The Waya App will allow users to open bank accounts digitally, and within minutes, send money to other Waya users for free, spend using their Waya cards linked to their Waya account and to remit money to over 10 countries in Africa. Remittances will be delivered to Mobile wallets and bank accounts across Africa.
The App will be available in the app and play stores from September 16 for early adopters and available to the public on October 1.
“The launch of Waya is a fond revelation that we can offer solutions to our own problems as the diaspora, and contribute positively to the growth and financial empowerment of our people. “Waya’s mission is to unlock financial barriers, and provide unlimited financial access and opportunities for millions of African immigrants living and working outside their home countries”, said Dr David Wachira, Co-founder and COO of Waya.
He further highlighted the opportunity of offering banking and remittance services to the millions of immigrants that contribute over $1.3trillion to the USA economy annually. “The African Diaspora send over $50 billion dollars back
home every year and lose up to $3B in hidden fees and high FX rates when sending money back home. We not only want to help them move money back home in a faster, cheaper and affordable way but want to enable them to also store, spend and transact over 80 per cent of their income that remains in the countries where they live and work.
Mr Fred Ndavi, The Chief Impact & Strategy Officer noted that Waya supports 8 of the 17 United Nations Sustainable development goals and seeks to drive more financial inclusion to the immigrant communities in the USA, many of who are
unbanked, under-banked and often underserved by existing banking channels.
“For many African Immigrants living and working in the USA and other parts of the world, opening a bank account is often marred with a myriad of roadblocks and constraints, while sending money remains the most expensive and inefficient financial process for any immigrant. We don’t think this is fair” Mr Ndavi said in a statement.
“Mobile Money is one of the biggest African success stories. Waya wants to bring the convenience of transacting on mobile money to banking in the USA enabling users to transact with each other while enabling the diaspora to send money to Africa in a fast convenient and affordable way” noted MR Hempstone Maria, the Co-founder & CEO further added that, one in nine
people globally are supported by remittances.
Waya will also allow users to make domestic bank transfers within the USA to pay others or pay bills in the countries where they live and work. Waya also plans to provide other financial services like credit, savings accounts and investment
opportunities for immigrants, to enable them to be more financially secure and financially included in the countries where they work and live.