KCB Bank Kenya and Airtel Money have signed a partnership that will allow Airtel Money customers to deposit and withdraw cash at more than 22,000 KCB agents across Kenya, the two firms said on June 18, 2026.

Under the arrangement, customers will need a valid national identification document and a registered Airtel Money account to access the service. Deposits will be free, while “standard withdrawal charges will apply,” according to the joint announcement.

The partnership links Airtel Money’s mobile wallet services to KCB’s agency banking footprint at a time when Kenya’s retail payments market is increasingly defined by mobile money usage, agent networks and efforts to improve interoperability between providers. Both companies said the collaboration is aimed at reducing barriers to access and improving customer convenience through shared infrastructure.

Anne Kinuthia-Otieno, Managing Director of Airtel Money Kenya, said access to KCB’s agent network would expand Airtel Money’s touchpoints for cash-in and cash-out services. “By opening access to KCB's extensive agent network, we are bringing Airtel Money services closer to more Kenyans and making it easier for customers to deposit and withdraw money wherever they are,” Kinuthia-Otieno said.

KCB Bank Kenya Managing Director Annastacia Kimtai said the bank is positioning its agency network as part of a broader push for more connected digital financial ecosystems. “What we are doing is recognizing the fact that diverse and interconnected opportunities are still core to the mobile money value proposition,” Kimtai said. She added: “It is against this background that we are offering our agency network for more Kenyans to strengthen mobile money ecosystems and help the industry mature fully.”

The deal adds another layer of competition and collaboration in Kenya’s agency banking and mobile money space, where providers are seeking scale and distribution beyond their proprietary networks. For Airtel Money, the partnership could expand physical access points for cash services, especially in areas where KCB agents are more established. For KCB, it potentially increases transaction volumes through agents and strengthens its non-branch channel strategy.

KCB said its “non-branch solutions, including its agency banking network,” continue to drive accessibility and operational efficiency. The bank noted that it has been bolstering its agency banking capabilities through the acquisition of Riverbank Solutions, citing the addition of social payments and enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions. KCB also said that “99% of transactions” are conducted through non-branch channels, according to the press release.

In Kenya, partnerships that connect mobile wallets to agent networks can influence customer choice by improving proximity, speed and reliability of cash services—still a major requirement despite growing digital payments. The move also reflects a broader industry trend of leveraging shared networks to extend reach without heavy capital investment in branches.

The companies did not disclose transaction limits, timelines for nationwide rollout beyond the announcement date, or expected uptake. Next steps will likely include operational integration across agent points and customer communication on service availability, fees and supported transaction types.