Choice Bank and Safaricom Partner to Accelerate Mobile Remittances in Kenya

Choice Bank and Safaricom have partnered to streamline international remittances into Kenya, utilizing API-driven banking to facilitate last-mile payouts directly to mobile wallets. For fintechs and global payment providers, this integration reduces settlement friction and provides a regulated gateway into one of Africa’s most mature mobile money ecosystems, backed by the Central Bank of Kenya.

What was announced

The collaboration between Choice Bank and Safaricom PLC is designed to enhance the flow of international funds into Kenya. By integrating with Safaricom’s established remittance payment infrastructure, Choice Bank is enabling last-mile payouts to mobile wallets. This system is fully regulated by the Central Bank of Kenya, ensuring that inbound transfers meet strict oversight and consumer protection standards. The initiative is a central component of Choice Bank’s broader strategy to provide API-driven banking and payment solutions across the African continent.

The technical integration allows global and local partners—specifically remittance providers and fintech companies—to reach Kenyan customers directly and securely. By plugging into Safaricom’s extensive mobile wallet network, Choice Bank aims to reduce the settlement time and operational friction typically associated with inbound cross-border transfers. The partnership combines Choice Bank’s expertise in digital banking for businesses, SMEs, and individuals with Safaricom’s dominant mobile money infrastructure. The result is an ecosystem intended to make remittances faster, more accessible, and more cost-efficient for the end user. Choice Bank has invited global payments players looking to scale in the Kenyan market to utilize this ready-made infrastructure for their own service integrations.

The companies involved

Safaricom is a major telecommunications and financial services provider in Kenya, operating under its parent company, Vodacom. It is widely recognized for its role in pioneering mobile money through the M-PESA platform, which has become a fundamental part of the Kenyan economy. The company’s infrastructure supports a vast network of merchants and individual users, making it the primary vehicle for digital payments in the region.

Choice Microfinance Bank, referred to as Choice Bank, focuses on providing digital-first banking services. The institution has positioned itself as a bridge for businesses and SMEs seeking modern financial tools, with a specific emphasis on API-driven solutions. Unlike traditional legacy banks, Choice Bank’s model is built around the flexibility of digital integrations, allowing it to act as a facilitator for fintechs and international payment platforms entering the African market. By partnering with Safaricom, Choice Bank leverages its specialized focus on business banking to enhance the utility of Kenya’s existing mobile money rails for international stakeholders.

What FF News has reported before

FF News has tracked Safaricom’s consistent efforts to expand its international payment capabilities. In July 2025, the publication covered how Safaricom and PayPal Collaborate to Link Mobile Money with Online Payments, a move that strengthened the link between global e-commerce and Kenyan consumers. Previously, in September 2024, Safaricom and Mastercard Partner to Expand Remittances and Payment Acceptance to Over 636,000 Merchants in Kenya, significantly broadening the reach of digital payments for local merchants.

The company’s regional influence was also highlighted in March 2024 when M-PESA Safaricom Partners with Onafriq, Enabling the Flow of Remittances to Ethiopia. Furthermore, Safaricom’s role in global interoperability was noted in August 2024 when TerraPay Forms Council With Leading Digital Wallets to Accelerate Cross-Border Payments Interoperability, placing Safaricom at the center of international discussions regarding wallet-to-wallet transfers.

What this means

This partnership signals a shift in how international remittances are handled in East Africa, moving away from traditional bank-to-bank transfers toward more agile, API-led mobile wallet payouts. By providing a "ready-made" infrastructure, Choice Bank and Safaricom are placing significant pressure on traditional remittance corridors that rely on physical agent networks or slower settlement cycles. For the wider industry, the move highlights the growing importance of regulatory-compliant gateways that can bridge the gap between global fintech standards and local mobile money realities. The primary question remaining for the sector is whether this increased efficiency will lead to a meaningful reduction in transfer fees for the African diaspora.