South African fintech, Mama Money has partnered with Pick ‘N’ Pay and Access Bank to create a WhatsApp-powered bank card for people who are unable to access traditional banking
Mama Money Card customers can effortlessly manage their accounts using WhatsApp. The card offers various services such as purchasing airtime, depositing cash, checking account balances, and freezing it if lost or stolen. It also allows customers to shop online, withdraw money from ATMs, and send money to over 70 countries.
The Mama Money Card is making it much easier for underserved communities to get their bank service where all they need is proof of identity, such as a passport, asylum document, or South African ID, to register for Mama Money on their phone.
“We have always sought ways to make financial services more accessible and tailored to the needs of our unique customer base,” says Mathieu Coquillon, co-founder of Mama Money.
“We’ve seen big demand from employers who previously paid their staff in cash or via e-wallet or had issues with employees sharing bank account details. Each Mama Money Card comes with its own account number that makes it simple to pay salaries and gives cardholders full control of their money,” added Coquillon.
“The Mama Money Card has significant potential to reach South Africa’s unbanked population. With convenient access through WhatsApp, it removes barriers like physical bank branches or ATMs that often limit banking options. Given South Africa’s high cellphone and WhatsApp usage, this service makes essential banking and payment functions more accessible. Pick n Pay is proud to support this innovative, tailored solution through our extensive store network, bringing financial inclusion one step closer to everyone—something we have always promoted,” said Deven Moodley, Executive Head of Value-Added Services, Financial Services, and Mobile at Pick n Pay.
The Mama Money Card offers more than just a banking service. “It provides security, supports employment and promotes secure savings, improving the livelihoods of our customers,” Coquillon concluded.
Founded in 2013, Mama Money started with money transfers from SA to Zimbabwe in 2015. Since then, the payment platform has used technology to help users transfer money to more countries, providing services to Africa, Asia and Europe.
The Mama Money Card costs R99, with a R25 monthly fee. To send money abroad, the fee is 5% or less, depending on where the money is being sent.
To apply for the card, users register on the Mama Money app with either a passport, asylum document, or South African ID. According to the company, this makes it much easier to set up, as traditional banks often require proof of address to issue a bank card.
