NAIROBI, Kenya, Sept 3 – African Banking Corporation (ABC Bank) has gone live on the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), allowing customers to send and receive payments across 28 participating African countries.
The service allows individuals and businesses to make near-instant payments from their ABC Bank accounts to recipients at more than 190 participating banks in the PAPSS network.
It is expected to reduce the cost and time associated with traditional international transfers.
Customers can send money in Kenyan shillings, with recipients receiving the funds in their local currency, or send US dollars for the recipient to receive the payment in US dollars.
The US dollar option requires both the sender and recipient to have US dollar bank accounts.
Speaking during the go-live announcement, ABC Bank Managing Director Apollo Njoroge said the system will make intra-African payments faster and cheaper.
“Historically, intra-African payments were routed through correspondent banks outside the continent, resulting in slower and more expensive transfers. By joining the PAPSS network, our customers can now make affordable, near-instant payments,” Njoroge said.
Developed by Afreximbank in collaboration with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, PAPSS currently connects 28 African countries, more than 190 commercial banks and fintechs, and 16 payment switches.
More countries and financial institutions are expected to join the network.
ABC Bank said the integration will support regional trade by making it easier for businesses and individuals to make payments across African markets.
