UNITED BANK OF AFRICA, AIRTEL IN NEW PARTNERSHIP

Dar es Salaam. United Bank for Africa (UBA), is partnering with Bharti Airtel, to provide mobile-based financial services across Africa through Airtel Money.

Airtel Money is Bharti Airtel’s mobile commerce brand that enables subscribers to carry out financial transactions directly from their mobile phones.

Under the signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), both companies will expand the range of innovative financial services to their customers in the 12 African countries where both companies have operations. The countries include Nigeria, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone, Gabon, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Chad, Zambia, Congo Brazzaville and Congo DRC. UBA operates in 19 African countries – boating over 10 million. Airtel has a presence in 17 African countries with over 30 million registered mobile money customers.

UBA and Airtel will jointly launch new mobile-based financial products and services that are relevant to customers with the objective of driving convenience to their combined over 30m+ registered customers. These 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. These initiatives are geared at improving convenience for their teeming customers across the continent whilst boosting intra-Africa trade and commerce.

“We are very excited about this partnership with Airtel that will see the introduction of innovative solutions in the e-commerce space in Africa,” said Kennedy Uzoka, Group DMD and CEO, UBA Africa.

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.”

Background: About UBA and Bharti Airtel

United Bank for Africa Plc is one of Africa’s leading financial institutions offering banking services to more than 10 million customers across over 700 business offices in 19 African countries. It also has a presence in New York, London and Paris. Headquartered in New Delhi, India, Bharti Airtel Limited is a leading global telecommunications company with operations in 20 countries across Asia and Africa.