Thunes and Ecobank Group to power Africa’s instant payments for the next billion users.

In a landmark move set to reshape Africa’s financial landscape, Thunes, the Smart Superhighway to move money around the world and Ecobank Group , the leading pan-African financial institution, announced a collaboration which will enable instant cross-border payments for millions of individuals and businesses across Sub-Saharan Africa.

The collaboration, announced on Thursday October 29, 2025, marks a significant step in integrating banking and fintech infrastructures to unlock faster, broader financial connectivity across the continent.

“This collaboration marks a major development in how we power payments across Africa,” said Peter De Caluwe, Co-Founder and CEO of Thunes. “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. The result is a live, large-scale solution that’s transforming how money moves across the continent. This represents a key milestone in our mission to enable the next billion end users to take part in the global economy.”

The partnership builds on a memorandum of understanding signed in 2024 between Ecobank and TransferTo, Thunes’ holding company. That agreement laid the groundwork for a transformative approach to financial access and cross-border payment solutions across Africa.

Ecobank Group, which operates in 32 countries across the continent, will gradually roll out the partnership in phases, aligning with local regulatory frameworks. The goal is to connect Ecobank’s customer base to Thunes’ Direct Global Network, which spans over 130 countries and links to 7 billion mobile wallets and bank accounts worldwide.

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

The integration promises to simplify how people and businesses send, receive, and manage money across borders. With faster settlements and easier access to liquidity, the partnership is expected to catalyse new opportunities for trade, remittances, and digital participation.

Togo is the first country to benefit from the partnership. Ecobank customers in Togo can now receive instant payments from global remittance providers. This initial launch signals the operational readiness of the alliance and sets the stage for broader continental expansion.

By combining Ecobank’s deep local footprint with Thunes’ global reach, the initiative aims to empower entrepreneurs to trade beyond borders, enable families to support loved ones instantly, and help communities participate in a more dynamic digital economy.

As Africa continues to embrace digital transformation, this partnership positions both institutions at the forefront of inclusive financial innovation; one that could redefine how money moves across the continent for generations to come.