Money transfers from Europe to M-Pesa, Airtel

The African continent has been at the forefront of mobile money development since 2007. Back then, one of the pillars of the modern fintech industry, the mobile wallet, was born as M-Pesa, a solution for international money transfers to Kenya. In this article we review some major providers and explain how to send money to Airtel and how to use M-Pesa. We also share tips on how to send money from Europe to Africa in the most efficient way, with Profee.

Some facts about remittances and mobile money in Africa

• Over a half of all mobile money providers globally operate in sub-Saharan Africa
• In 2023, more than $54 billion was sent to the region in remittances
• The cost of remittances is the highest with the banks (12.1% on average) and post offices (7%) and the lowest with money transfer providers (5.3%) and mobile operators (4.1%).

With so many people sending money abroad, some of them become victims of fraud. Learn how to secure yourself from transfer scams in our article.

Let us now have a closer look at two mobile money providers in Africa, M-Pesa and Airtel, and at how to use Profee, an online remittance service available in over 60 countries, to send money from Europe.

M-Pesa

The leading provider on the African mobile money and digital payments market, M-Pesa is present in eight countries serving over 65 million customers and businesses. Each day it processes more than $1 billion in transaction value including M-Pesa international money transfers to Kenya and other destinations.

M-Pesa online transfers via Profee are a very convenient solution for several reasons.

1. The sender only needs to know the recipient’s name and phone number
2. The recipient can choose between cash and cashless transactions
3. There is no transaction fee for M-Pesa international money transfers via Profee, and the currency exchange rates are the best on the market.

How to use M-Pesa

1. Visit an M-Pesa agent to open an account.
2. Deposit cash or receive your M-Pesa online transfer to then spend the money at M-Pesa merchants or remit it across the country.
3. For security reasons, each transaction requires a confirmation with your PIN.

Airtel Money

Airtel Africa, a telecommunication and mobile money provider, is active in 14 countries in East, Central and West Africa with over 156 million customers including more than 34 million users of its dedicated Airtel Money transfer service. In 2023, the transaction value of Airtel mobile money in Africa grew to nearly $89 billion which is 37.6% more than a year earlier.

Signing up with Airtel Money is free but you need to do it in person at one of the Airtel Money Agents or an Airtel shop where you will have to:

1. Complete a registration form
2. Prove your identity with a national/military/alien ID or a valid passport
3. After receiving a confirmation text message, dial *334# to set up your PIN code and security question.

Now, the account is ready to receive Airtel Money transfers from more than 80 countries globally including via Profee. In turn, the sender needs to know how to send money to Airtel. With Profee it is very easy, with only the recipient’s name and phone number required. In a couple of minutes the transfer will have been delivered, at the most favourable exchange rate, and with zero fees. The money then can be used to buy Airtel airtime or pay bills, sent to another Airtel subscriber in Africa, or withdrawn at an Airtel Money agent.

Profee

An emerging player on the African remittance market, Profee is the go-to solution for those looking to send money from Europe and the UK to Africa. A licensed money transfer provider, Profee has recently partnered with M-Pesa and Airtel Money to ensure smooth and fast remittances between the two continents. It offers the best exchange rates on the market with zero fees for M-Pesa and Airtel money transfers. There is also a special promo rate on the first transfer.

If you are an African expat based in a European country and need to send money to M-Pesa or Airtel accounts in Africa from Europe, get Profee to save money and time on your international transfers.

How to send money to Airtel and M-Pesa with Profee

1. Sign up on www.profee.com or in the iOS/Android app
2. Select your destination and enter the transfer amount
3. Choose Airtel or M-Pesa as the receipt option and enter the recipient’s name and phone number
4. Choose your payment method and add the required details
5. Check the details provided and tap ‘Send’. The money will be delivered instantly.

For more detailed instruction on how to send money from Europe read our article.

In addition to high speed and low cost of transfers, Profee offers other multiple benefits to its customers. One of those is its referral programme which enables clients to get an unlimited amount of money for inviting their friends to use the service. Once your friend uses your referral link and sends their first transfer, you get €10 and they get €5. The more friends you invite, the more you earn. Visit www.profee.com or download the Profee app from Google Play or the Apple Store to unlock this and other opportunities.