KCB Bank Kenya has partnered with global payments firm Visa, unveiling Tap-to-Phone contactless payment acceptance that will lower the cost of digital payments and drive access for merchants across the country.
Under the new partnership, entrepreneurs can receive card payments directly on NFC-enabled Android smartphones, thereby eliminating conventional POS machines. The solution is likely to be a boon for small and medium-sized enterprises in particular, since they have financial constraints in deploying POS infrastructure.
While making the announcement, KCB Bank Kenya Director of Retail Banking Jane, Isiaho said the move would serve to streamline payments acceptance while boosting safety and convenience for merchants.
“This collaboration with Visa brings to life a powerful solution that enables every merchant to accept digital payments using just a smartphone. We are making access to payment acceptance easier, reducing operational costs, and enabling merchants to serve customers faster and more securely,” said Isiaho.
This Tap-to-Phone solution is enabled by the Visa Acceptance Platform, using advanced tokenization technology for security. The innovation is within the broader digital transformation strategy of KCB toward seamless and secure payment solutions to satisfy evolving consumer and business needs.
According to Visa Country Manager and Senior Business Development Leader for Kenya, South Sudan, and Somalia, John Njoroge, the initiative shall further accelerate merchant growth through digital innovation.
“Visa is proud to partner with KCB toward expanding access to safe, fast, and affordable payment acceptance for businesses of all sizes throughout Kenya. Tap to Phone eliminates traditional barriers by turning the devices merchants already own into secure acceptance tools. This is how we unlock scale, drive inclusion, and build a stronger digital economy,” said Njoroge.
This partnership builds on KCB’s continued investments in strengthening digital platforms and merchant support systems. This also demonstrates shared commitment by KCB and Visa toward driving financial inclusion, accelerating Kenya’s digital transformation, and giving businesses the competitiveness they need to win in a technology-driven marketplace.