Thunes and Ecobank Launch Instant Payments Across Africa

Thunes and Ecobank Group have announced a significant collaboration aimed at facilitating instant cross-border payments for millions throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. This partnership, unveiled on October 29, 2025, operationalizes a memorandum of understanding signed in 2024, which aimed to revolutionize financial access and payment solutions across the continent.

The integration between banking and fintech infrastructures promises to enhance the ease with which individuals and businesses can send, receive, and manage money instantly across borders. This development will enable faster settlements, simplify access to liquidity, and broaden financial reach, unlocking new growth opportunities within the digital economy.

Strategic Rollout Across Africa

The collaboration will progressively deploy across Ecobank’s operations in 32 countries, adhering to local regulations. This phased rollout aims to connect Ecobank customers to Thunes’ Direct Global Network, which spans over 130 countries and connects to 7 billion mobile wallets and bank accounts worldwide.

By merging Ecobank’s extensive local presence with Thunes’ established network, the alliance empowers entrepreneurs to engage in cross-border trade, allows families to support loved ones instantly, and fosters community participation in a more dynamic digital economy.

Peter De Caluwe, Co-Founder and CEO of Thunes, emphasized the importance of this partnership, stating, “This collaboration marks a major development in how we power payments across Africa. Thunes’ solutions and Ecobank’s reach are a perfect match: together we’re delivering faster, more reliable access to liquidity and creating new pathways for growth across Sub-Saharan Africa.”

First Steps in Togo

The first market to benefit from this partnership is Togo, where Ecobank customers will now have access to instant payments from global remittance players. This initial launch serves as a demonstration of the partnership’s operational capabilities as it prepares for systematic expansion across the continent.

Jeremy Awori, CEO of Ecobank Group, remarked, “Our collaboration with Thunes perfectly aligns with Ecobank’s mission to provide borderless banking and drive financial inclusion across Africa. By combining our robust banking infrastructure with Thunes’ fintech innovation, we’re expanding real-time financial access for millions and driving the growth of Africa’s digital economy.”

This partnership is expected to play a pivotal role in enhancing financial connectivity across Sub-Saharan Africa, potentially transforming the landscape of digital finance on the continent and enabling the next billion users to engage with the global economy. The commitment of both organizations to drive financial inclusion is a vital step towards a more integrated and efficient financial ecosystem in Africa.