WorldRemit launches new mobile-to-mobile services in Five African countries

WorldRemit customers in over 50 countries can now make instant, low-cost international mobile money transfers to 15 million accounts in Guinea, Malawi, Madagascar, Mozambique, and Niger

Johannesburg and London, 24 July 2019: Leading digital money transfer service WorldRemit continues its rapid expansion in Africa, launching new international mobile money services through a partnership with MFS Africa in five countries across the region.

This launch brings WorldRemit’s mobile money service to 5 new countries via Airtel in Malawi and Niger, Orange in Madagascar, Vodacom in Mozambique, and MTN in Guinea.

WorldRemit’s mobile-first, digital model saves customers time and money as they don’t need to visit a money transfer agent to send funds home to their loved ones. Using the WorldRemit app or website, the diaspora living in over 50 countries can now send instant low-cost money transfers at any time to 15 million mobile money users across the 5 countries.

WorldRemit is the leading digital remittance company connected to 190 million mobile money accounts globally. With this new announcement, WorldRemit is connected to 39 mobile money services in 29 countries. Almost half of its transfers to Africa go to mobile money services.

MFS Africa is Africa’s largest digital payments hub, connecting over 180 million mobile wallets on the continent. Through a single API, MFS Africa connects mobile wallet systems, banks, money transfer operators, and merchants to enable real-time, cross-border and cross-network transactions.

Dare Okoudjou, founder and CEO of MFS Africa, said: “Our mission at MFS Africa is to bring down the costs of remittances into and within Africa, and we achieve that by leveraging the power of mobile money and digital payments. WorldRemit is known as a leader among the new generation of digital-first money transfer operators, and we’re thrilled to be a partner in their expansion strategy. We are looking forward to growing our networks together to help reach more users with more affordable and accessible remittance services.”

According to the World Bank, remittances to Sub-Saharan Africa increased by over 9.6% from 2017 to 2018, reaching $46 billion. However, the region is still the most expensive in the world to send money to, with an average cost of 9.3 percent.

Andrew Stewart, Managing Director of WorldRemit for the Middle East and Africa comments: “WorldRemit is committed to supporting financial inclusion across Africa by enabling the unbanked populations to receive money directly into their mobile wallets, without the need for a bank account. Our partnership with MFS Africa helps us accelerate our financial inclusion mission while expanding our footprint across the continent. 

Our best-in-class service offers convenience and peace of mind to over 5 million customers worldwide. Over 90% of WorldRemit transactions are authorised within 10 minutes and customers can track their money’s journey in real-time using our ‘Track your Transfer’ function.”

Visit the WorldRemit website for more information on how to send money abroad.

Press Enquiries

About WorldRemit

We are a leading global payments company and, along with Sendwave, part of Zepz, a group powering two global remittance brands. 

We disrupted an industry previously dominated by offline legacy players by taking international money transfers online – making them safer, faster and lower cost. We currently operate in more than 5,000 money transfer corridors worldwide and as part of Zepz, are part of a 1,400 person global workforce.

Sending money with WorldRemit is 100% digital (cashless), increasing convenience and enhancing security. For those receiving money, we offer a wide range of options, including bank transfer, cash pickup, airtime top up and mobile money. 

Backed by Accel, TCV and Leapfrog – WorldRemit’s headquarters are in London, United Kingdom, with regional offices in the United States, Poland, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, South Africa, Somaliland, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Belgium.

About Zepz

Zepz Group is the group powering leading global remittance brands: WorldRemit and Sendwave. Since 2021, Zepz Group has been disrupting an industry previously dominated by offline legacy players by reducing the barriers to finance and increasing safety and convenience for users. Every day, Zepz Group and its brands work towards unlocking the prosperity of cross-border communities through finance and technology - driven by the vision of a world that celebrates migrants’ impact on prosperity, at home and abroad.

Zepz Group brands have helped cross-border communities send over $15bn from 50 countries, to recipients in 130 countries in 2022, and operate over 5,000 money transfer corridors worldwide. Zepz Group employs over 1,400 people globally as a remote-first employer, with team members located across six continents.