Zain Partners with Pesapoint ATMs to offer Zap services

Zain Kenya clients can now withdraw money from their Zap accounts at any Pesapoint ATMs countrywide without the need for an ATM card. The mobile services company today entered into a partnership with the Paynet Group, the proprietors of the Pesapoint ATM network, as it continues to increase the Zap Agency footprint countrywide. All Zap withdrawals from Pesapoint ATMs will earn the customer free airtime worth 10% of the value withdrawn.

Managing Director Rene Meza said the partnership will give Zap a stronger presence across the country, a move that will contribute immensely in the journey towards achieving market leadership in Kenya.
To access funds from Pesapoint ATMs, Zap customers will request an authorization code by transferring Zap value to the ‘Nickname’ Pesapoint .  The code will act as a special Personal Identification Number to be keyed in at the ATM’s.  Zain has reportedly incorporated high level safety features to ensure that the ATM transactions are secure. Apart from the authorization code, customers seeking to cash their Zap money at the ATMs will also be required to provide their Zap PIN for the transaction to be completed.

Paynet becomes the first company with an ATM network to partner with Zap. The cash out facility at the Pesapoint outlets will be available to all Zap registered customers.  “Customers do not have to have a bank account or ATM card to enjoy this facility. We are happy to bring the convenience of mobile commerce closer to our customers,” said Mr. Meza.

Speaking during the launch, Paynet Group Managing Director Bernard Matthewman lauded the partnership saying it will strengthen the penetration of the money transfer service in Kenya.

To do this they will not need cards but can use the Zap service which means access to money 24 hours a day and 365 days a year.  Card-less transactions have been pioneered by PesaPoint in Kenya and garnered us international awards, we are very pleased to be the first ATM network to provide services to Zap users,” he said.

Zap, which was launched last year, has more than 2 million registered customers and more than 11,000 agents countrywide. Zain Kenya is currently signing up new Agents in order to increase the network to 20,000 before the end of the year. The expansion is in line with the ongoing growth in customer numbers following last month’s decision by Zain Kenya to reduce cross network calling rates by 50%. The mobile commerce service is targeting to provide banking services to an estimated 80% of Kenya’s population who do not have access to banking services.

Safaricom is also a partner to the paynet group.