Safaricom and Visa Launch MPesa GlobalPay Visa Virtual Card

Safaricom and American digital payments company Visa have signed a deal that will allow MPesa customers to pay for goods and services in more than 200 countries.

The deal led to the launch of the MPesa GlobalPay Visa Virtual card that enables subscribers to transact up to Sh150,000 per payment and Sh300,000 per day.

The virtual card opens global shopping for Kenyan consumers, allowing secure cashless payments at merchant locations around the world through Visa’s global network.

Customers can activate the card through the MPesa App by selecting MPesa GlobalPay under “Pay”, or “Grow” option. This can also be done by dialing *334# then selecting option six for “Lipa Na MPesa” followed by “MPesa GlobalPay”. 

Both options require the customer to use their secret MPesa PIN and they can view their card details and generate the “CVV” required to confirm online card transactions, manage their cards, set up repeat payments, and access their mini-statement.

The MPesa GlobalPay Visa Virtual Card will be exclusive for international online payments outside the country to protect customers from incurring forex conversion costs on local online payments billed in Kenya shillings.

Upon conducting a transaction with the card, a customer will receive an SMS with the prevailing exchange rate for the transaction value. 

Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa said through the MPesa GlobalPay Visa virtual card, the company seeks to bridge the gap for its customers who would like to use MPesa anywhere around the world.

Corine Mbiaketcha, Vice President and General Manager for East Africa at Visa, said: “Visa is committed to expanding the payments ecosystem across Africa by opening up the global marketplace for every single consumer. This partnership with Safaricom is an important step in helping to achieve this.” 

Safaricom and Visa are also planning to launch the MPesa GlobalPay Visa Virtual Card in Tanzania, DR Congo, Mozambique, Lesotho and Ghana.