Airtel Money customers across the country will now enjoy faster and more flexible payment experiences following the new Airtel Money–I&M Bank partnership, which allows users to make direct payments to I&M Bank merchant Paybills nationwide.
Announced in Nairobi on Wednesday, the Airtel Money–I&M Bank partnership aims to strengthen Kenya’s digital commerce ecosystem by widening merchant access, improving transaction security, and offering more convenience to both consumers and businesses. Airtel Money customers will also enjoy a 50 percent guaranteed airtime cashback on all Paybill payments.
Airtel Money Kenya Managing Director Anne Kinuthia-Otieno said the collaboration responds to customer needs in a market where more than 90 percent of Paybills are bank-linked.
“At Airtel Money, we are easing wallet funding and bill payments for our customers while expanding their choices through a wider merchant network,” she said. “This Airtel Money–I&M Bank partnership makes digital payments easier, faster, and more secure.”
I&M Bank Regional CEO and Interim CEO for Kenya, Kihara Maina, welcomed the collaboration, calling it a key milestone in the bank’s regional digital strategy.
“We are delighted to partner with Airtel Money to make payments to I&M merchants seamless and universally accessible. This Airtel Money–I&M Bank partnership deepens interoperability, broadens financial access, and supports the merchants and small businesses powering our economies,” Maina said.
Regional Growth Through the Airtel Money–I&M Bank Partnership
The initiative builds on the successful rollout of a similar partnership between Airtel Money Tanzania and I&M Bank Tanzania. By taking a regional approach, both organisations can share insights, scale innovations faster, and provide consistent digital banking experiences across East Africa.
The partnership aligns with I&M Group’s broader vision of borderless banking, while reinforcing Airtel’s position as a leading mobile money operator committed to financial inclusion.
Through the new system, Airtel Money customers can now pay I&M-linked merchants via USSD *334# or the Airtel Money app using Paybill number 542542.
How to Pay Using Airtel Money
*USSD (334#)
- Dial *334#
- Select Paybill & Till Payments
- Select Airtel Paybill
- Enter Paybill Number: 542542
- Enter Reference Number (as displayed by the merchant)
- Enter Amount
- Enter PIN
MyAirtel App
- Launch the app
- Select Paybill
- Select Airtel Paybill
- Enter Paybill Number: 542542
- Enter Reference Number
- Enter Amount
- Enter PIN
The partnership is expected to ease transactions for millions of users while helping merchants process payments more efficiently and securely during a period of rising digital payments across Kenya.
