UBA collaborates Airtel on mobile money transactions

By Chris Alu

The United Bank for Africa is partnering with Airtel to provide mobile-based financial services across Africa that would enable its subscribers carry out financial transactions directly from their mobile phones.

Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed, both companies will expand the range of innovative financial services to their customers in the 12 countries where they are both present within Africa which include Nigeria, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone, Gabon, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Chad and Zambia, Congo Brazzaville and Congo DRC.

According to Mr. Kennedy Uzoka, Group DMD and CEO, UBA Africa says the transactions; include International Money Transfer services, Mobile Banking, Super Agency Services, and Payment Cards for their customers.

He explained that the partnership will facilitate cardless withdrawal services at ATMs, Mobile Savings and Loans. “We are very excited about this partnership with Airtel that will see the introduction of innovative solutions in the e-commerce space inAfrica.

The rich bouquet of mobile-based services which we will be introducing under the partnership will not only support financial inclusion across Africa, it will also improve trade and break barriers of doing business on the continent. As Africa’s global bank, we are proud to be at the forefront of using a mobile based platform to provide ubiquitous financial services to resolve some of Africa’s challenges,” said Kennedy Uzoka.

Also speaking, 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, he stated.