Airtel Money and Diamond Trust Bank – DTB have entered a new partnership that expands how Kenyans move money, pay businesses, and manage daily finances. The deal focuses on one of the most active segments in the economy SMEs. It aims to reduce friction in digital payments while widening access to basic financial services.
The agreement now allows Airtel Money customers to pay DTB Till Moja merchants directly. This matters because SMEs often manage thin margins and rely on quick, low-cost payments to stay afloat. By opening another payment channel, DTB merchants gain access to a broader customer base without needing extra hardware or new systems. It lowers operating barriers and increases liquidity, two issues that small businesses repeatedly struggle with.
Lowering SME Payment Costs
The partnership also adds a second shift: users can now move money from Airtel Money wallets straight into DTB accounts. This is especially relevant for workers and traders who prefer mobile money for speed but still need a bank account for saving, credit access, or bulk transactions. Direct wallet-to-bank transfers cut the time and cost of moving funds between platforms, a long-standing hurdle for many customers outside major towns.
Airtel Money customers will further receive a 50% airtime cashback on Paybill transactions. While promotional, this incentive signals a broader push: competing not only on access but on affordability as mobile payments become central to household spending.
Airtel Money Managing Director Anne Kinuthia-Otieno said the goal is to create a seamless flow of money across Kenya’s financial ecosystem. Her message hints at a larger industry shift digital finance is no longer about isolated wallets or bank apps but integrated networks where value moves freely.
DTB’s Retail Banking Director George Otiende positioned the partnership as part of the bank’s plan to expand payment options and reduce barriers to accessing financial tools. For banks, deeper links with mobile money platforms are becoming essential as customer behaviour moves toward mobile-first financial management.
For many SMEs and individuals in rural areas, these changes mean fewer trips to branches, lower transaction costs, and easier ways to save and pay. The move strengthens the trend toward an inclusive digital economy where mobile money and banking services blend into a single, accessible layer.
Customers can now deposit into any DTB account or pay DTB Till Moja merchants through the Airtel Money App or by dialing *334#.
