Summary
Paystack, the Nigerian fintech acquired by Stripe in 2020, widened its partnership with Pesalink, Kenya's real-time interbank transfer network, allowing shoppers to pay merchants directly from their bank accounts through Paystack Checkout. The move builds on an earlier integration and gives Kenyan consumers a familiar, real-time payment option when shopping online.
Pesalink is Kenya's leading real-time interbank transfer network, connecting all major Kenyan banks. The expanded partnership means Paystack's merchant clients in Kenya can now accept bank transfers as a checkout option, giving customers a payment method that doesn't require cards, mobile money, or digital wallets. For Paystack, the integration deepens its presence in the Kenyan market and adds a critical payment rail for e-commerce.
Key Facts
- Paystack expanded Pesalink partnership in Kenya
- Shoppers can pay merchants directly from bank accounts via Paystack Checkout
- Pesalink: Kenya's real-time interbank transfer network
- Connects all major Kenyan banks
- Payment method: no cards, mobile money, or digital wallets required
- Builds on earlier integration between Paystack and Pesalink
- Deepens Paystack's presence in Kenyan market
- Adds critical payment rail for e-commerce in Kenya
- Part of Paystack's broader African expansion strategy
Why It Matters
Paystack's expanded Pesalink integration addresses a key payment friction in Kenya's e-commerce market. While Kenya has advanced mobile money (M-Pesa) and card infrastructure, bank transfers offer a familiar, low-cost option for consumers who prefer paying directly from their bank accounts. The integration strengthens Paystack's competitive position in Kenya and demonstrates the growing importance of real-time interbank payment rails for e-commerce across Africa.