Tag: remittance

  • Zimbabwe’s BARD Santner initiates remittances platform

    Zimbabwe’s BARD Santner initiates remittances platform

    A financial middle-ground company called Bard Santner Incorporated, which focuses on asset management, business finance, and wealth management, has launched a new money transfer platform called TX Money Transfer. The company wants to fill in the gaps in the money transfer market by offering “a transparent service.”

    Zimbabwe’s remittance industry is currently based on sending and receiving cash. The need for cash transactions creates some problems at the collection point, but TX Money Transfer will solve these problems by focusing on the collection points, which are the last part of the value chain.

    Read also: UK-Based Africhange Promotes Low-Cost Remittance

    TX Money Transfer: Transforming the Remittance Landscape in Zimbabwe

    Lucia Chingwaru, executive director of TX Money Transfer, said at the launch, “The main goal is to fill existing gaps in the remittance sector by providing a reliable, transparent, and integrated service. By using TX Money Transfer, we guarantee the availability of funds for disbursement and promise no hidden fees.”

    The flat 3% fee structure gives clients a predictable cost. She stated that fragmentation in the remittance sector causes redundancy. Multi-remittance services often send cash similarly, causing inefficiencies and higher transaction costs. TX Money will engage with other remittance providers to help them disburse as part of the value chain and address these issues.

    “These collaborations will facilitate economies of scale, streamline processes, and consolidate efforts. This approach will enable other remittance providers to offer services more efficiently and reliably to their customers. We are currently offering this service to InnBucks and finalising similar agreements with other players in the market. This strategy reduces costs and ensures timely and secure fund transfers for customers,” she added.

    TX Money Transfer works with Edgars and Jet shops nationwide as a partner. 

    Pathiso Ncube, Managing Director of Club Plus Microfinance, a part of Edgars Stores Zimbabwe, told FinX they handle cash in and out for TX at all Edgars and Jet stores. While Bard Santner’s work is mainly in Zimbabwe, it includes Botswana, South Africa, Zambia, and other nearby countries. It also includes Mauritius, the UK, and the US.

    Read also: M-Pesa and Dahabshiil team up for the Ethiopian remittance market

    About BARD Santner 

    BARD Santner is a pioneering financial services firm in Zimbabwe that provides innovative investment solutions. As a boutique investment bank, BARD Santner specialises in asset management, advisory services, and investment banking. 

    The firm promotes financial inclusion and economic growth through specialised financial products for individuals and institutions. Through research and market analysis, BARD Santner uses local expertise and worldwide best practices to create robust financial strategies.

    The firm’s commitment to ethical practices and sustainability underscores its mission to drive growth and prosperity in Zimbabwe’s financial sector. BARD Santner supports the country’s economic resilience and expansion through its comprehensive services.

  • UK-Based Africhange Promotes Low-Cost Remittance

    UK-Based Africhange Promotes Low-Cost Remittance

    Africhange, a worldwide remittance services provider, has commenced operations in the United Kingdom, providing more efficient, cost-effective, and dependable ways for individuals to send and receive money internationally.

    Africhange currently supports remittance services across more than 100 corridors globally, with more corridors across Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas to come and a broader range of payment and financial services for users.

    Read also: Innovate Africa Fund’s $2.5M Rollout

    Africhange Expands into the UK Market with Licenced Payment Solutions

    Africhange’s new Authorised Payment Institution Licence will support the execution of various payment solutions, including remittance services, for UK users. The licence will begin with the UK-Nigeria axis and include Ghana and Kenya by the end of the year.

    In addition to the market-leading exchange rates that are accessible to the general public, students attending UK universities can receive discounted rates with Africhange.

    They also intend to launch Afripoints, a cutting-edge loyalty programme that enables users to accumulate cash incentives for transferring and receiving money over the website.

    Every transaction a user makes earns them points with Afripoints, which they may redeem for cash or use as discounts on future purchases. This program is already available to users in Canada, Australia, and Nigeria and will soon launch in the UK.

    This program is already available to users in Canada, Australia, and Nigeria and will soon launch in the UK.

    According to the founder and CEO of Africhange, David Ajala, Africhange’s entry into the UK market represents a significant milestone in their mission to deliver the best possible global payment experience for Africans in the diaspora.

    Despite the significant inflows of remittance to the continent, the cost of sending money means a significant percentage of those funds don’t get to the recipients, and they want to change that.

    They have big plans and are looking forward to expanding their services, reaching more customers and ensuring that everyone can benefit from seamless and cost-effective international money transfers.

    Read also: Mastercard Foundation summit highlights African edtech startups

    Africhange Disrupts Remittance Market with Affordable, Real-Time Payments

    In 2023, remittances from the United Kingdom to Africa amounted to over $8 billion, reflecting this cash transfer’s substantial and increasing nature.

    The UK and Nigeria have long had close historical ties, and there is a sizable and expanding Nigerian diaspora in the UK. According to recent reports, these factors have made Nigeria one of the top receivers of remittances from the UK worldwide.

    With up to 15% of the total amount needed to send money to some African countries, Africa has some of the priciest remittance corridors in the world, according to the World Bank.

    Using its innovative platform, Africhange provides users with easy, affordable, and user-friendly international payment experiences that let them send money abroad.

    With reasonable rates that ensure more money reaches the destination, users can send money in real time across borders.

    With a variety of currencies, including US dollars (USD), Canadian dollars (CAD), Chinese yen (CNY), Nigerian naira (NGN), Kenyan shillings (KES), Ghanaian cedis (GHS), Indian rupees (INR), Australian dollars (AUD), British pound sterling (GBP), and more, the company supports money transfer services from Canada, Nigeria, Australia, and the UK to various countries across the world.

  • Econet launches Zimbabwe’s first free remittance corridors

    Econet launches Zimbabwe’s first free remittance corridors

    Econet Wireless, Zimbabwe’s most prominent tech and phone company, has opened two free ways for people to send money into the country. Senders and receivers will not have to pay anything. It’s the first time this has happened in Africa.

    A relationship between Econet and its sister company, Sasai Money Transfer, will let people and businesses in the UK and South Africa send money to Zimbabwe for free starting May 2, 2024.

    The receiver also gets free EcoCash coming out of their wallet. Currently, fees of up to 15% are charged to people who send money abroad, and 3% is charged to people who receive money.

    Read also: OPay, Kuda, Moniepoint, others pause signups amidst CBN probe

    Econet was founded by Strive Masiyiwa in Zimbabwe in 1993. It was initially termed “Enhanced Communications Network” but later shortened to Econet.

    The group is based in South Africa and conducts each activity independently with local boards and management. Botswana, Burundi, Kenya, Lesotho, New Zealand, Nigeria, South Africa, the UK, and Zimbabwe are Econet offices.

    Econet Helping Zimbabweans In Diaspora

    According to Dr. Douglas Mboweni, CEO of Econet Wireless Zimbabwe, the most recent move is intended to assist Zimbabweans in overcoming the severe difficulties brought on by the drought.

    A national calamity was recently proclaimed in the nation due to a drought brought on by the El Niño climate phenomenon, which has left over 2.7 million people in need of food assistance.

    “We hope Zimbabweans in the Diaspora will use the savings to send more money home to their families,” Dr Mboweni stated.

    “These two major corridors—the UK and South Africa—account for the majority of remittances to Zimbabwe. Thanks to the assistance of a sister company within the group, we do not need to pay any third parties for those corridors,” the speaker stated.

    Facilitating Remittances Into Zimbabwe through Econet

    In addition to stating that it was time to lower remittances into Africa generally “to assist with the continent’s economic development agenda,” the CEO of Econet expressed his hope that his company’s decision will inspire other businesses that facilitate remittances into Zimbabwe to lower their rates.

    Read also: Standard Bank Invests $11M in South African Fintech, Float

    Dr Mboweni went on to say that the programme aided government attempts to boost remittances from the diaspora into the nation through official routes.

    Recipients no longer have to drive great distances to pick up cash thanks to Econet’s vast EcoCash agent network, which guarantees that even residents of isolated rural areas may access affordable financial services.

    The EcoCash US dollar wallet, which can be accessed by dialling *153# on an EcoCash registered Econet line, is where Econet stated that remittance transactions would be made more accessible.

    By installing the Sasai Money Transfer App from the Google Play Store and the App Store, senders in the UK and South Africa can use Sasai Money Transfer.