How the NCBA-MoneyGram Partnership Will Simplify Global Money Transfers
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NCBA has partnered with global money transfer giant MoneyGram to ease the process of sending and receiving funds across borders, expanding access to over 200 countries directly from NCBA accounts or via cash pickup at any of its 100+ branches in Kenya.
The NCBA-MoneyGram Partnership is expected to provide customers with faster, safer, and more convenient remittance services amid rising demand.
Kenya’s diaspora remittance inflows reached $1.23 billion in the first quarter of 2025, according to the Central Bank of Kenya. These funds play a vital role in supporting households and funding investments. But despite the growing volume, many still face high costs, security concerns, and limited access to traditional channels.
The NCBA-MoneyGram initiative is designed to solve these challenges by offering a tech-enabled, secure, and accessible platform for global transactions.
“With the steady growth in diaspora remittance volumes in Kenya, our partnership with MoneyGram offers a reliable avenue for our customers in the diaspora to take care of their families and invest at home, directly through NCBA,” said Dennis Njau, Ag Director Retail Banking at NCBA.
Through the partnership, customers can send funds directly from their NCBA bank accounts or collect cash at any local NCBA branch. The service is available both digitally and physically, offering flexibility for customers in urban areas who use digital banking and those in rural settings who depend on over-the-counter transactions.
Connecting Kenyans Abroad to 200+ Countries
MoneyGram’s global reach, spanning 470,000 retail locations and more than 5 billion digital endpoints, enables seamless international money transfers for NCBA clients. Whether funds are being sent to mobile wallets, bank accounts, or picked up in cash, users have multiple options depending on their preferences and locations.
For example, a Kenyan living in Canada can send money using NCBA’s mobile app or via a MoneyGram agent. The recipient in Kenya may receive the funds directly into their NCBA account or pick up cash at a nearby branch. Each transfer generates an 8-digit tracking number (MTCN), ensuring transparency and security.
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This flexibility addresses the needs of a growing diaspora population that often sends money home to support family members or fund investments. With NCBA-MoneyGram, users benefit from a streamlined experience with real-time transaction tracking and minimal processing delays.
Expanding Financial Inclusion
The NCBA-MoneyGram Partnership also strengthens NCBA’s focus on financial inclusion in East Africa. With operations across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Ivory Coast, NCBA serves more than 60 million customers. The partnership extends remittance access to both banked and unbanked individuals.
Even customers without NCBA accounts can receive money at any NCBA branch, supporting populations who lack access to formal banking services. This inclusive model is especially important in rural regions, where infrastructure limitations have historically excluded many from international remittance flows.
The partnership also enables users to make payments to institutions such as the Kenya Revenue Authority, extending its utility beyond personal transfers.
Riding the Digital Wave
Digitization is central to NCBA’s remittance strategy. The Central Bank of Kenya projects that digital transfers in the country will exceed KES 3.5 trillion by 2025. In response, NCBA has been scaling its online platforms, including its banking portal and mobile app, now enhanced with MoneyGram’s tech-driven system.
Through this integration, users can initiate transfers, monitor their status, and receive updates, all from their smartphones. NCBA already supports services like Western Union, Swift, and M-Pesa, and the addition of MoneyGram adds yet another reliable channel to serve the growing demand.
Jefferson Wachira is a writer at Africa Digest News, specializing in banking and finance trends, and their impact on African economies.
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