Thunes, a global money movement platform, and Ecobank Group, a leading pan-African financial institution, have announced a collaboration to enable instant cross-border payments for millions of individuals and businesses across Sub-Saharan Africa. The partnership will progressively roll out across Ecobank's 32-country footprint, connecting its customers to Thunes' global network for faster and more accessible financial transactions.
Quick Intel
Thunes and Ecobank partner to enable instant cross-border payments in Africa.
The rollout will progressively expand across Ecobank's 32 operating countries.
It connects Ecobank customers to Thunes' global network in 130+ countries.
The first operational market is Togo, with more countries to follow.
The goal is to empower entrepreneurs, families, and communities across the continent.
The partnership combines deep local banking presence with global fintech infrastructure.
A Landmark Partnership for Financial Access
This collaboration operationalizes a memorandum of understanding signed in 2024, marking a significant step in transforming financial access across Africa. By integrating banking and fintech infrastructures, the partnership aims to make it easier for people and businesses to send, receive, and manage money across borders instantly. This will provide faster settlements, simpler access to liquidity, and a broader reach, unlocking new possibilities for economic participation.
Connecting Africa to a Global Network
The core of this initiative is the connection between Ecobank's extensive pan-African presence and Thunes' Direct Global Network, which spans over 130 countries and connects to 7 billion mobile wallets and bank accounts. This combination empowers African entrepreneurs to trade beyond their local markets and allows families to receive support from abroad instantly. Peter De Caluwe, Co-Founder and CEO of Thunes, said: "Thunes' solutions and Ecobank's reach are a perfect match: together we're delivering faster, more reliable access to liquidity and creating new pathways for growth across Sub-Saharan Africa."
Driving Financial Inclusion and Digital Economy Growth
The partnership is strategically aligned with the mission of both companies to drive financial inclusion and borderless banking. By providing real-time financial access to millions, the collaboration is positioned to be a key enabler for the growth of Africa's digital economy. Jeremy Awori, CEO of Ecobank Group, stated: "By combining our robust banking infrastructure with Thunes' fintech innovation and trusted Direct Global Network, we're expanding real-time financial access for millions and driving the growth of Africa's digital economy."
The launch in Togo demonstrates the operational readiness of the partnership, setting the stage for a systematic continental expansion that promises to reshape the financial landscape for millions across Africa.
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