Airtel Money Kenya has integrated its mobile money platform with Pesalink, allowing customers to transfer funds directly to accounts at 30 banks, SACCOs and microfinance institutions across Kenya.
The integration with Integrated Payment Services Limited (IPSL), which operates Pesalink, allows Airtel Money customers to move funds from their mobile wallets to participating financial institutions through the MyAirtel App or USSD.
Customers can initiate transfers through the app by selecting Pay Bill, choosing a bank, entering an account number and specifying the amount. The service is also available by dialling *334#.
The integration includes an account verification feature that displays the recipient’s bank name and account details before a transaction is completed, helping customers confirm payment information.
Airtel Money plans to extend the partnership to include cash-in and cash-out services through its agent network and person-to-merchant payments, although the company did not provide a timeline for the additional services.
The integration uses Pesalink’s existing payment infrastructure, allowing Airtel Money to connect with participating financial institutions without negotiating separate bilateral agreements with each institution.
“This partnership with IPSL enables us to extend our reach into the broader financial ecosystem through Pesalink,” said Michael Bonke, Acting Managing Director of Airtel Money Kenya. He said the service would make it easier for customers to transfer funds between mobile wallets and bank accounts.
IPSL Chief Executive Officer Gituku Kirika said the partnership would connect banking infrastructure with mobile money platforms and give customers more options for transferring funds.
Pesalink connects more than 200 banks, telecommunications companies, fintechs and SACCOs in Kenya, providing an interoperable network for account-to-account payments.
The integration gives Airtel Money customers access to a wider range of financial institutions through a single payment network, as mobile money operators and banks expand connections across Kenya’s digital payments market.