Western Union, Zoona Transactions Zambia Limited, and Chipper Cash have teamed up to introduce international money transfer services through the Chipper Cash mobile app. This co-branded service enables users in Zambia to send and receive funds globally, connecting them to a network that spans more than 200 countries and territories.
Zambia, with a population exceeding 20 million, is witnessing rapid smartphone adoption. Despite this digital growth, a significant portion of the population still relies on cash-based systems. By integrating Western Union’s global network into the Chipper Cash app, users now have access to international remittance services without requiring a formal bank account.
In 2022, Chipper Cash acquired Zoona, a leading Zambian payments platform. Together, they serve around 5 million users across Africa with digital payments and transfer services. This collaboration combines Western Union’s 175 years of expertise in cross-border transfers with Chipper Cash’s deep understanding of the local market and mobile-based technology.
Chipper Cash users can fund their wallets through a variety of options, including retail agents, mobile networks, banks, and ATMs. Transfers can be sent to mobile wallets worldwide or collected in cash at hundreds of thousands of partner locations. Plans to introduce bank account payouts are also underway.
Mohamed Touhami el Ouazzani, Western Union’s regional vice president for Africa, commented on Zambia’s growing digital-savvy population, which is driving demand for mobile-first financial services. “By integrating our global transfer services into Chipper Cash, customers can now conduct international transactions with reliability and ease,” he said.
Brett Magrath, CEO of Zoona and chief product officer at Chipper Cash, emphasized Zambia’s fintech evolution: “We’ve witnessed the country’s transition from agent-led cash systems to a flourishing mobile-first ecosystem. With more smartphones in use, users are now expecting more sophisticated app experiences. This partnership brings global financial access directly to them.”
This initiative is part of a wider trend across Africa that combines global infrastructure with local fintech innovation to boost financial inclusion. For Zambian users, the service offers convenience and flexibility, allowing them to send money to family abroad or receive funds from loved ones, regardless of access to formal banking services. The upcoming addition of bank deposit options will further enhance the user experience.
This launch is a significant milestone in Zambia’s financial landscape, connecting more people to global financial flows and further advancing the shift towards digital-first financial services in underserved markets.
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