Airtel reintroduces Airtel Money Visa card

Telecom operator Airtel has reintroduced its Airtel Money Card back into the market in a bid to give customers access to funds.

This comes as the country’s second largest mobile operator struggles to build its network of mobile money agents, with the card set to give users more options.

Airtel was forced to withdraw the card from the market in April after its banking partner, Chase Bank was placed under receivership, restricting access to funds.

“We are happy that our customers have now regained the use of their Airtel Money Card for convenient everyday shopping at any Visa outlet, online shopping and easy and secure access of cash at ATM’s in Kenya and while traveling abroad”, said Airtel Kenya Chief Executive Officer Adil El Youssefi.

The card links a user’s Airtel Money account to a Visa card allowing customers to make a wide array of payments.

Airtel currently has 30,000 Airtel Money agents, but has had a challenge growing its merchant base to facilitate payments through the mobile money transfer service.

In contrast, Safaricom has built a network of over 44,000 merchants on its Lipa na M-Pesa platform with over Sh20 billion made in payments on the platform by march 2016.

The listed telecom last month announced it was piloting an M-Pesa based payment card as more customers and businesses opt for cashless transactions.

Airtel is in talks with three other banks to develop Visa linked Airtel Money cards in an effort of keeping pace with its bitter rival.