Remittance service allows Ethiopians to send money throughout East Africa via phone

A new remittance service that allows Ethiopians to send money to directly to any mobile number in East Africa has been launched, becoming the first of its kind.

This follows the inking of a deal between Homesend and Commercial Bank of Ethiopia.

Homesend which was launched in 2014 is a joint venture of Mastercard, eServGlobal and BICS that enables business to business cross-border and cross-network transfers. Consumers can send money to and from mobile money accounts, payment cards, bank accounts or cash outlets, regardless of their location or that of the recipient. It is free for receivers and is accessible to anyone with a mobile number, and empowers the sender to transfer funds at a low cost through the HomeSend secure network of money transfer operators and banks.

HomeSend will be available in Ethiopia before the end of the year, says Bekalu Zeleke, President of CBE. “At the CBE, we believe that embracing technology is integral to bringing the best possible service to our customers. HomeSend is an example of how, when working with the right partner, like Mastercard, a financial institution can improve the lives of its customers.”

Estimated to be a US$ 3.5 billion industry in Ethiopia, remittance services provides citizens with access to a safe and convenient financial solution, bridging the gap for those previously excluded from the formal financial sector. According to the World Bank Global Financial Inclusion database, only 22 percent of adults in Ethiopia have a financial account with a formal financial institution.

In the 2016 Financial and Digital Inclusion Project (FDIP) Report it was highlighted that the National Bank of Ethiopia has established several financial inclusion goals in areas such as digital financial services, financial literacy, and payment systems. In 2014, it established a Financial Inclusion Council (FIC) to advance on inclusive financing and centralize the services offered by various bodies.

“We are committed to helping develop a more inclusive economy, and displacing cash in Ethiopia and across Africa. It’s through digital payment solutions such as HomeSend that we are financially empowering people who need it the most,” said Daniel Monehin, Division President, Sub Saharan Africa, Mastercard.

“Cash remains the biggest barrier to financial inclusion in Africa. By empowering communities through technology, we provide access to formal financial services which brings with it the opportunity to prosper.”

Mastercard continues to rapidly expand the reach of its remittance efforts, including the HomeSend joint venture, with coverage expected to reach more than 70 markets in 2016. These will include a number of new Mobile Money markets, bolstering the interoperability of HomeSend’s network and providing consumers with the ability to send and receive remittances globally via a mobile phone.


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