Postbank PLC has partnered with instant payment switch Pesalink to enable customers of participating commercial banks and Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations (SACCOs) to make real-time cash deposits through more than 600 Postbank branches and authorised agent locations across Kenya.
The agreement opens Postbank’s nationwide distribution network to other financial institutions through shared payment infrastructure. It replaces the one-to-one bilateral agreements previously required for agent banking partnerships, allowing participating lenders to access the network without separate technical integrations or standalone commercial arrangements.
Under the initial phase, customers of participating institutions will be able to make cash deposits through Postbank’s network. Withdrawals are not included in the current arrangement.
Integrated Payment Services Limited (IPSL) Chief Executive Officer Gituku Kirika said the partnership would allow banks and SACCOs to maximise the value of their existing infrastructure by making agent networks accessible to customers of other financial institutions.
Postbank Managing Director Dr Raphael Lekolool said the arrangement would create more transaction opportunities for agents while extending the value of infrastructure the bank has developed since pioneering agent banking in 1978.
The partnership is also expected to give Postbank agents access to a broader customer base and additional revenue streams. Existing Postbank customers will continue accessing the full range of banking services through the bank’s agent network.
Pesalink plans to onboard additional commercial banks and SACCOs over the coming months, expanding participation in the shared payment infrastructure.
The agreement introduces a shared approach to agent banking access, allowing financial institutions to extend cash deposit services through an established nationwide network without building separate integrations and commercial partnerships.
