NMB LAUNCHES SUPER APP AS FINANCIAL LITERACY TAKES CENTRE STAGE

NMB Bank Plc Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Ruth Zaipuna (centre), joins the bank’s Executive Management in giving a thumbs-up shortly after the launch of NMB Mkononi Super App in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday, June 16, 2026.

NMB Bank Plc Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Ruth Zaipuna (left), tries out features of the NMB Mkononi Super App during its launch in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. NMB Bancassurance Specialist Sangwani Mkandawile, centre, demonstrates the platform using an iPad.

New Platform Brings Together Loans, Insurance, Investments and Group Banking

June 16, 2026 | Dar es Salaam

NMB Bank has unveiled the NMB Mkononi Super App, a comprehensive digital platform that integrates loans, insurance, investments, group banking and payment services into a single ecosystem, while placing renewed emphasis on the importance of financial literacy in the digital age.

Launched in Dar es Salaam, the new platform is expected to transform how customers access financial services by reducing reliance on physical bank branches and enabling a wider range of banking solutions through mobile phones anytime and from anywhere.

Beyond traditional services such as sending and receiving money, paying bills and merchant payments, the Super App allows customers to open bank accounts, invest, purchase data bundles, access insurance products and manage social and economic groups, including Village Community Banks (VICOBA), through one digital platform.

Speaking during the launch, NMB Bank Plc Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Ruth Zaipuna, said the platform represents a significant step in the bank’s digital transformation journey.

“NMB Mkononi Super App is not merely a banking application. It is a broader platform for opportunity and empowerment that enables Tanzanians to manage their financial lives more conveniently,” said Zaipuna.

She noted that the platform has been designed to serve diverse customer segments, including students, farmers, salaried employees, traders, entrepreneurs and investors, eliminating the need to use multiple systems to access different financial services.

The bank said eligible individual customers will be able to apply for loans of up to TSh 2 million, while qualifying small businesses can access financing of up to TSh 5 million directly through the application without completing paperwork or visiting a branch.

While the convenience of digital lending presents significant opportunities for financial inclusion, it also underscores the growing importance of financial education. Customers must understand borrowing costs, repayment obligations, loan terms and their own repayment capacity before taking on debt.

Financial experts increasingly emphasize that digital credit can be a powerful tool for business growth, productivity and household financial resilience when used responsibly, but may expose borrowers to unnecessary financial strain if not properly understood.

Zaipuna revealed that NMB has invested TSh 232 billion over the past five years in technology, innovation and digital services, and remains committed to strengthening cybersecurity and modern financial infrastructure to support the country's growing digital economy.

The Super App also extends banking access to Tanzanians living abroad by enabling remote account opening through mobile phones using National Identification Authority (NIDA) credentials.

NMB Head of Innovation and Development, Josina Njambi, explained that customers only need a mobile phone number and National Identification Number (NIN) to complete the account registration process.

“A customer will enter their mobile number and NIDA number and then follow the instructions. The account-opening process can be completed within five minutes,” said Njambi.

She further encouraged innovators and technology entrepreneurs to collaborate with NMB by presenting solutions that can enhance financial services and improve customer experience.

Through the platform’s NMB Kikundi service, members of savings and lending groups will be able to manage contributions, establish lending rules, approve transactions and monitor group funds digitally. The service is expected to enhance transparency, accountability and trust among group members.

As Tanzania continues its transition toward a digital economy, the success of the NMB Mkononi Super App will depend not only on the breadth of services it offers, but also on the extent to which customers are equipped with the knowledge required to make informed financial decisions.

By combining innovation with financial education, NMB is positioning the Super App as more than a banking tool—creating a platform that has the potential to expand financial inclusion, empower communities and support sustainable economic growth across Tanzania.