Safaricom and VISA have launched and MPESA GlobalPay Visa Virtual card that will enable users to make payments across the world with their phones.
MPESA has over 30 million subscribers all of whom will have access to the over 200 countries where Visa operates.
Visa is a global leader in digital payments while MPESA is a global leader in mobile phone payments.
The launch of the new M-PESA Visa virtual card opens global shopping for Kenyan consumers, allowing secure cashless payments.
Customers can activate their card using the MPESA App or the Safaricom MPESA GlobalPay USSD code *334#. Read here how to activate.
With the MPESA GlobalPay Visa virtual card, one can manage online card transactions, set up repeat payments and access their Mini-Statement.
Opening more online payments avenues
The MPESA GlobalPay Visa Virtual Card will be exclusive for international, online payments outside the country to protect customers from incurring forex conversion costs on local online payments billed in Kenya Shillings.
“MPESA has over the past fifteen years evolved from a simple money transfer service to become a robust payment platform and driver of financial inclusion for Kenyans. This has paved the way for numerous innovative services and by partnering with Visa to provide the M-PESA GlobalPay Visa virtual card, we are looking to bridge the gap for our customers who would like to use M-PESA anywhere across the world,” said Peter Ndegwa, CEO, Safaricom.
Kenyans can use the MPESA GlobalPay Visa Virtual card to shop online for entertainment, retail, business and even when travelling abroad.
“Visa is committed to expanding the payments ecosystem across Africa by opening up the global marketplace for every single consumer. This partnership with Safaricom is an important step in helping to achieve this,” said Corine Mbiaketcha, Vice President and General Manager for East Africa at Visa.
Corine Mbiaketcha noted that Safaricom has already transformed how money moves in Kenya, and the new development for payments products and services can eliminate barriers to global commerce for merchants and consumers in sub-Saharan Africa.
Visa remains optimistic that this partnership will go a long way in opening the global ecommerce market to Kenya’s significant unbanked and underbanked population.
The MPESA GlobalPay Visa Virtual card will gradually be available across other MPESA markets through the MPESA Super App. This will rope in countries such as Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Lesotho and Ghana.
