Africa’s cross-border payments landscape is about to get a major speed upgrade. Ecobank Group and Thunes have officially kicked off their landmark partnership, turning last year’s memorandum of understanding into a live, continent-scale payments infrastructure.

The collaboration connects Ecobank’s 32-country footprint with Thunes’ Direct Global Network, which reaches over 130 countries and 7 billion mobile wallets and bank accounts. The goal: make it as easy to send money from Lomé to London—or Lagos to Lusaka—as it is to send a text.

“This collaboration marks a major development in how we power payments across Africa,” said Peter De Caluwe, Co-Founder and CEO of Thunes. “Together we’re delivering faster, more reliable access to liquidity and creating new pathways for growth.”

The Engine Behind Borderless Banking

At its core, the partnership operationalizes the 2024 agreement between Ecobank and TransferTo, Thunes’ holding company—an ambitious blueprint for financial inclusion across Africa.

That blueprint is now going live. Ecobank customers will soon be able to send, receive, and manage money instantly across borders through an integrated network bridging traditional banking rails and fintech infrastructure.

This large-scale integration promises faster settlements, simpler liquidity access, and a more inclusive digital economy—an essential step as Africa’s small businesses and gig workers increasingly rely on real-time payments to stay competitive.

The first rollout begins in Togo, where Ecobank customers can already receive instant payments from global remittance players. From there, the network will progressively expand across the bank’s pan-African operations, with each market deployment aligned to local regulatory requirements.

“Our collaboration with Thunes perfectly aligns with Ecobank’s mission to provide borderless banking and drive financial inclusion,” said Jeremy Awori, CEO of Ecobank Group. “Together, we’re expanding real-time access for millions and driving Africa’s digital economy forward.”

Why It Matters

For African entrepreneurs, freelancers, and families, this collaboration means faster, cheaper, and more accessible financial connectivity. For regulators and development advocates, it signals a new stage in the continent’s financial evolution—where cross-border integration isn’t a lofty ideal, but a working reality.

The broader implication: Africa’s fintech future will be built not just by startups, but by collaborations—where banks bring stability and fintechs bring agility. Ecobank and Thunes are betting that such synergy can finally unlock the scale that’s long eluded the continent’s payment networks.