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Airtel Money has partnered with Absa Bank Kenya to simplify payment flows for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), enabling seamless transfers between mobile wallets and bank accounts.
The integration allows merchants to receive payments from Airtel Money users directly into Absa accounts and paybill numbers—mobile money billing codes used for business transactions—eliminating manual processes that often delay settlement.
The move addresses a long-standing challenge for SMEs, which typically operate across multiple channels including mobile wallets, bank accounts, and agent networks. By enabling direct wallet-to-bank transactions, the partnership reduces friction, improves cash flow management, and accelerates settlement times.
It also strengthens Airtel’s position in merchant payments, a segment historically dominated by M-PESA.
According to Renato D’Souza, Business Banking Director at Absa Bank Kenya, the collaboration is designed to unlock greater value for businesses navigating an increasingly digital economy.
The development comes amid sustained growth in Kenya’s mobile money ecosystem. Data from the Central Bank of Kenya shows that transaction value through mobile money agents reached KES 633.35 billion ($4.9 billion) in February 2026, even as more users shift toward direct wallet and bank transfers.
Despite growing competition, M-PESA remains the dominant player, processing 21.9 billion transactions worth KES 20.2 trillion ($156 billion) in the six months to September 2025, based on disclosures from Safaricom.
However, Airtel Money continues to gain traction, with its market share rising to around 11%, driven by adoption among cost-conscious users and merchants. The Absa integration is expected to further accelerate this growth by making the platform more practical for everyday business transactions.
Across the sector, banks are increasingly integrating with mobile money platforms to maintain visibility into transaction flows and expand offerings such as credit, savings, and working capital solutions.
Institutions like NCBA Group and KCB Group have already established similar models through partnerships with Safaricom, offering products such as M-Shwari and KCB M-PESA.
Meanwhile, Equity Bank has adopted a different approach through its Equitel mobile virtual network, linking customer accounts directly to mobile services.
The Airtel–Absa collaboration marks a continued push to redefine merchant payments in Kenya, as financial institutions and telecom operators deepen partnerships to deliver faster, more integrated digital payment solutions.
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