NIB International Bank Completes Integration of NIBtera USSD Push Payments with Kelal Gateway

NIB International Bank S.C. has formally confirmed the successful production deployment of its NIBtera mobile banking USSD Push Payment integration with Kelal Gateway, the companies announced.

The integration went live in September 2026 following joint technical work that included VPN connectivity, HTTPS callback configuration, and live end-to-end testing.

Kelal Gateway is now enabled as a merchant on the NIBtera platform. This allows NIB International Bank customers to complete payments through a merchant-initiated USSD push flow rather than manually dialing short codes or navigating menus.

The system creates a secure, real-time payment bridge between Kelal Gateway and NIB’s NIBtera platform. Users receive an interactive prompt on their mobile phones and authorize the transaction by entering their bank PIN.

How the Payment Flow Works

Unlike traditional USSD sessions in which customers dial a code such as *811# and step through menus, the new process is initiated by the merchant:

1. A customer selects NIBtera at Kelal’s checkout, for example when buying an event ticket.
2. Kelal’s system triggers a real-time push prompt that appears directly on the user’s phone screen via the bank’s gateway.
3. The customer enters their secret NIB PIN to authorize the debit.

The integration relies on enterprise-grade infrastructure. A dedicated VPN tunnel encrypts traffic between Kelal and NIB Bank. Automated HTTPS callbacks instantly notify Kelal’s servers when a customer approves a transaction. Extensive end-to-end testing was conducted to confirm reliable performance and accurate reconciliation.

Benefits Across the Ecosystem

For event attendees, the process is faster and more convenient. Users no longer need to open a banking app, copy account numbers, or enter complex short codes. The prompt appears automatically.

Because USSD works without an active data connection, the service is available on both smartphones and basic feature phones. Transactions remain protected by the customer’s existing private bank PIN.

For event organizers and merchants, the streamlined checkout is expected to reduce cart abandonment. Real-time HTTPS callbacks provide immediate payment confirmation, enabling automated ticket delivery and lowering the risk of fraud.

The merchant initiates the exact amount, eliminating the chance of customers typing incorrect figures or sending funds to the wrong account.

For the Kelal Gateway platform, the integration expands access to NIB International Bank’s mobile banking customer base across East Africa. The technical foundation, secure VPN tunnels and webhook structures, also creates a reusable model that should accelerate future partner onboarding.

Kelal Gateway described the NIBtera deployment as its latest completed bank and telecom payment partnership. The company said it next plans to integrate Zemen Bank, aiming to give users a wider choice of payment options when purchasing event tickets and merchandise.