Equity Bank Kenya has signed a partnership with NALA Payments Ltd, a remittance payment processing platform licensed in the UK and United States, to facilitate diaspora remittances to Kenya. This partnership will allow Kenyans living in the United Kingdom and United States send money directly from their banks, through the NALA app, instantly and at competitive rates to Equity Bank Kenya accounts and other mobile wallets.
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By engaging NALA as a technology partner, Equity Bank has fortified its position in remittances by giving its customers access to simple, competitive and faster services riding on the growing popularity of digital channels. It also allows NALA to reliably serve its users in the United States and United Kingdom who would like to save and invest in the Kenyan economy through a solid financial infrastructure.
NALA CEO Benjamin Fernandes said its mission is to increase economic opportunities globally and partnering with Equity Bank is a foundational step. “Combining NALA’s technology with Equity Bank’s reach allows us to build stronger financial infrastructure for Kenyans worldwide. Payments in Africa are 1% built, and technology enables us to make strides towards integrating the financial tools for advancement,” he said.
Mr Robert Kiboti, Equity Head of Private Banking who spoke on behalf of Equity Bank Kenya’s Managing Director Gerald Warui, said this partnership cements the position of the bank as the leading bank supporting Kenyans in the diaspora to send money to their loved ones as well as for investments.
He said this linkage will help widen the geographical reach in the remittances segment. “Equity will continue to build linkages with likeminded partners such as NALA to ensure that all its members’ have access to seamless and most competitive remittance services. Using fintech capabilities has given us a global presence, and as a result we have become a major processor of remittances payments around the world including across currencies,” he said.
Equity grew the volume of diaspora remittances it processed by 39 percent in 2021 compared to the corresponding period in 2020, leveraging on the growing popularity of digital channels for sending money home from abroad. It handled Sh383.5 billion in remittances in the 12 months to December, up from Sh279.4 billion in 2021.
NALA is also opening a new office in Nairobi, to host a third of the company’s staff. While NALA operates with a globally remote workforce, operational components like partnerships and customer support will be grounded in the Nairobi Headquarters under the leadership of NALA COO, Nicolai Eddy.
Despite the array of options for sending money to Africa from abroad, the continent continues to be the most expensive place to send money. The World Bank estimates average transfer fees to Africa at about 9%. Further, many of the existing options include hidden fees that make it hard to know the true cost of sending money.
Last year, the two entities inked a similar deal in Tanzania. NALA and Equity Bank are changing the paradigm of financial tools across the region by providing fair and transparent services to empower people with control over their finances.
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