# M-Pesa

> M-Pesa is a pioneering mobile-money service launched in Kenya that transformed payments and remittances across parts of Africa.

Source: https://www.neobank.wiki/wiki/m-pesa
Last updated: 2026-08-11
Categories: Financial technology, Kenya neobanks, Payment platforms, Remittance platforms, Consumer neobanks, Companies founded in 2007

**M-Pesa** is a mobile-money platform launched in Kenya in 2007 by **Safaricom** (in partnership with Vodafone). It lets users deposit, send and withdraw money via mobile phones and agent networks and is widely regarded as the foundational mobile-money system that reshaped African digital finance.[^mp1]

## History

M-Pesa launched in 2007 and rapidly became essential infrastructure for Kenyan payments and person-to-person transfers. Variants and related services expanded to other African and international markets. Academic and development literature often cites M-Pesa as proof that mobile money can leapfrog card-and-branch banking.[^mp2]

## Origins

M-Pesa was developed within Safaricom / Vodafone teams exploring remittances and prepaid airtime mechanisms. It is a product of a telecom-led financial inclusion strategy rather than a venture [neobank](/wiki/neobank).

## Model

M-Pesa is mobile money: e-value stored and transferred under telecom and payments regulation, redeemed via agents. It predates and differs from app-first deposit [neobanks](/wiki/neobank), but functionally substitutes for retail banking payments for millions of users.

## Products

Core services include cash-in/cash-out, P2P transfers, merchant payments, bill pay, savings and credit products (e.g. M-Shwari partnerships) and international remittances depending on market.

## Infobox

- **Launched**: 2007
- **Operator**: Safaricom / Vodafone partners
- **Origin**: Kenya
- **Type**: Mobile money

## Frequently asked questions

### What is M-Pesa?

M-Pesa is a pioneering mobile-money service launched in Kenya that transformed payments and remittances across parts of Africa.

### What type of company is M-Pesa?

M-Pesa is described as Mobile money in its neobank.wiki profile.


## References

[^mp1]: M-Pesa is Safaricom's mobile-money service launched in Kenya in 2007. — https://www.safaricom.co.ke/personal/m-pesa
[^mp2]: M-Pesa is widely studied as a landmark mobile-money deployment. — https://www.gsma.com/mobilemoneymetrics/