Airtel Money Kenya Ag. MD Michael Bonke and Integrated Payment Systems Limited CEO Gituku Kirika sign a partnership to expand digital payment options for Airtel Money customers to 30 financial institutions through Pesalink integration.
Airtel Money customers can now transfer funds directly from their mobile wallets to accounts in 30 banks, SACCOs and microfinance institutions across Kenya following a new integration with Pesalink.
The partnership with Integrated Payment Systems Limited (IPSL), the operator of Pesalink, expands Airtel Money’s digital payment services by connecting its customers to financial institutions within the Pesalink network.
Customers can access the service through the MyAirtel App by selecting the Pay Bill option, choosing their preferred financial institution, entering the recipient’s account number and specifying the amount to transfer.
The service is also available through USSD by dialling *334#, giving customers another option to move money between their mobile wallets and bank accounts.
The integration uses Pesalink’s payment infrastructure to connect Airtel Money with participating financial institutions without requiring separate agreements or technical integrations with each institution.
Airtel Money said the partnership would progressively expand to include cash-in and cash-out services through its agent network, as well as person-to-merchant (P2M) payments.
Acting Managing Director of Airtel Money Kenya Michael Bonke said the partnership would make it easier for customers to move funds between mobile wallets and bank accounts.
“This partnership with IPSL enables us to extend our reach into the broader financial ecosystem through Pesalink. By facilitating wallet-to-bank transfers across multiple financial institutions, we are making it easier for customers to move money seamlessly between mobile wallets and bank accounts,” Bonke said.
He added that the integration was part of Airtel Money’s wider efforts to expand financial access and improve convenience for customers.
The service also includes an account verification feature that allows customers to confirm the recipient’s bank name and account details before completing a transaction, helping reduce errors when sending money.
Bonke said the development builds on the company’s existing partnerships with banks, retailers, service providers and digital payment platforms as it seeks to strengthen Kenya’s digital payments ecosystem.
IPSL Chief Executive Officer Gituku Kirika said the partnership would improve interoperability between mobile money services and traditional banking systems.
“Pesalink was built to make payments open and interoperable, giving customers the freedom to easily and affordably move money, regardless of where it is held,” Kirika said.
He described the agreement with Airtel Money as an important step in connecting banking infrastructure with mobile money platforms, giving Kenyans more options for making everyday payments.
Pesalink operates an account-to-account payment network that connects banks, telecommunications companies, fintechs and SACCOs, enabling customers to transfer money across participating institutions.
The latest integration adds another channel for Airtel Money users to access Kenya’s wider financial services network without having to rely solely on traditional mobile money transfer options.
