Airtel Money customers can now make seamless payments to I&M Bank merchants across the country, following a new partnership aimed at strengthening Kenya’s digital payments ecosystem and expanding financial access.
The collaboration between Airtel Money and I&M Bank is expected to accelerate mobile money innovation by offering customers faster transactions, broader merchant coverage, and enhanced security features. As part of the rollout, Airtel Money users will also enjoy a 50 per cent guaranteed cashback in airtime on all Paybill payments made through the platform.
Airtel Money Kenya Managing Director Anne Kinuthia-Otieno said the move addresses the reality that more than 90 per cent of Paybill services in the market are bank-related, making it essential to increase the efficiency and accessibility of digital payments.
“At Airtel Money, we are cognizant of the reality that over 90 per cent of Paybills in the market are bank pay bills. Partnering with like-minded partners such as I&M Bank, we are not only easing wallet funding and bill payments for our customers but also expanding their choices through an extensive merchant network and making digital payments easier, faster, and more secure,” she said.
The new integration allows customers to send money, settle bills, and manage their finances instantly and securely via their mobile phones. It also reflects both institutions’ commitment to advancing financial inclusion, supporting small enterprises, and deepening interoperability within Kenya’s rapidly evolving digital economy.
I&M Bank Regional CEO and Interim CEO for Kenya, Kihara Maina, welcomed the partnership, describing it as a significant milestone in the bank’s regional digital growth agenda.
“We are delighted to partner with Airtel Money to make payments to I&M merchants seamless and universally accessible. This collaboration is a concrete step in our regional digital strategy, one that deepens interoperability, broadens financial access, and supports the merchants and small businesses that power our economies,” he said.
Maina noted that the partnership builds on a similar successful initiative between Airtel Money Tanzania and I&M Bank Tanzania, reinforcing a shared ambition to integrate digital payment ecosystems across East Africa. He added that such alliances drive efficiency, transparency, and inclusivity in the region’s financial landscape.
The regional strategy allows both entities to harness shared expertise, scale digital innovations more rapidly, and deliver consistent, high-quality mobile banking experiences across multiple countries. This approach aligns with I&M Group’s goal of borderless banking and Airtel’s position as a leading mobile money provider in the region.
Airtel Money customers can now pay I&M-linked merchants via USSD *334# or the Airtel Money app using the I&M Paybill number 542542.
How to Pay via USSD (334#):
- Dial *334#
- Select Paybill & Till Payments
- Choose Airtel Paybill
- Enter Paybill Number: 542542
- Enter the merchant’s reference number
- Enter the amount
- Enter PIN
Using the MyAirtel App:
- Open the app
- Select Paybill
- Choose Airtel Paybill
- Enter Paybill Number: 542542
- Enter reference number
- Enter amount
- Confirm with PIN
