Safaricom has launched virtual M-Pesa virtual card for international payments

Telco operator Safaricom has launched a Virtual Mpesa Visa Card that enables their users to make global payments online.

Now Mpesa users are able to make payments on e-commerce sites like Amazon, send money internationally, and make cross-border payments.

Customers can activate the card via the M-PESA App by selecting M-PESA GlobalPay, under the “Pay” or “Grow” option.

They can also activate it by dialing *334# then selecting option 6 for “Lipa Na M-PESA” followed by “M-PESA GlobalPay”.

“M-Pesa has over the past 15 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 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,” noted Safaricom Chief Executive Officer Peter Ndegwa.

The virtual card which is first available in Kenya, will gradually open to other M-Pesa markets including Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Mozambique, Lesotho and Ghana.

Safaricom’s mobile money platform M-Pesa, currently boosts of 30 million active monthly users all-over Kenya.

The growth according to the telco operator has been driven by innovations including new financial services such as M-Shwari, KCB M-Pesa and Fuliza.

VISA says it will create similar partnerships across Africa, opening a huge market.

“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 Mbiaketcha.