EcocashSave Reaches 900,000 Subscribers

Econet Wireless announced that subscribers to their Ecocash Save mobile banking service have now reached 900,000. 50,000 more than subscribers to typical brick and mortar banking services in Zimbabwe combined. The announcement was made in the same release announcing that Ecocash Save will start lending cash to subscriber in early 2014. The numbers are no

KCB to Offer Back Office Service for Posta e-Payment Solutions

Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) Group and Postal Corporation of Kenya (PCK) have entered into a strategic partnership to share payment infrastructure and capitalise on their expansive branch networks locally in line with the bank’s financial inclusion agenda. PCK recently launched its PostaPesa e-payment solution and the partnership will see KCB be the official Settlement Bank

MasterCard Launches Free Shipping for Top eCommerce Sites in US

Free Shipping by MasterCard launches for shoppers in the U.S. and provides access to free two-day shipping at five top e-commerce sites including Best Buy, QVC, Macy’s Kohl’s and Walmart. Buyers simply go through the Free Shipping by MasterCard site, make their purchase with a MasterCard credit or debit card, email their order confirmation showing

ACG Expands ATM Reach in Africa

ACG has inked its second reseller agreement with an African ATM firm. This most recent agreement was made with South Africa’s own TIM Trading. The deal grants TIM Trading with exclusive rights to sell and distribute ACG spare parts in several countries throughout the southern portion of Africa, including: Botswana, Namibia, Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa,

SASSA MasterCard Debit Card Boosts Financial Inclusion

Following the 10 million South Africa Social Security Agency (SASSA) MasterCard Debit card milestone announcement, an independent consumer survey has attributed this program as being one of the largest contributors to increasing financial inclusion in South Africa. According to FinScope South Africa 2013, South Africa’s banked population has grown 8% since 2012, with 75% (27.4

Infobip Launches Enterprise USSD Platform in South Africa

Infobip, a global leader in cloud-based mobile messaging and payments solutions for enterprises and mobile operators, announced it has built a technical platform for enterprise USSD in the Republic of South Africa. Comprising push USSD as well as mobile initiated options, enterprise USSD allows banks and financial institutions to increase security of internet banking transactions

Ericsson Powers MTN Rwanda Mobile Money Service

Ericsson announced that MTN Rwanda has deployed its Converged Wallet m-commerce solution. The launch brings easy-to-use, next-generation mobile financial services to MTN Rwanda’s subscribers, including mobile phone users that do not have access to traditional banking services. Ericsson is providing the operator with a flexible, reliable and efficient m-commerce solution that includes Ericsson Converged Wallet,

Financial Services Aggregator ZimSelector Introduces Internet Payments

ZimSelector, the Luke Ngwerume founded online financial services aggregation startup, announced that they have just enabled ZimSwitch Vpayments on the service. With the new internet payments option insurance buyers in Zimbabwe will be able to select and buy insurance on the website using bank cards issued by any of the ZimSwitch shared services enabled banks

ReD and Transact Connect Partner to Deliver Payment Solutions in Africa

ReD, a fraud prevention and payment services provider, has announced a new five year partnership agreement with South African payments experts, Transact Connect. The two companies will work together to introduce ReD’s full range of solutions to merchants and financial institutions across Africa. Transact Connect provides electronic payment expertise to Payment Services Providers, financial institutions,

Interview: Ugandan Techie Develops Mobile Money Transfer Service

Ugandan serial entrepreneur Teddy Ruge has launched a homegrown quick-pay service that targets the diaspora and aims to compete with industry giants such as Western Union and Moneygram. His project, Remit.ug, provides Ugandans living in the diaspora with the ability to send money to loved-ones using an African service, thus helping to boost the economy