Shopping with cash used to be king. Almost everyone made payments for their daily purchases using cash, or sometimes checks, and they reserved bank cards for large, infrequent purchases – that is, if they had credit cards at all. Then came M-PESA, which revolutionized how we transact and purchase products.
From purchasing airtime to sending money to friends and family to paying utility bills, M-PESA has become an ingrained mode of payment for many Kenyans – and it just got better! Safaricom and Visa launched a product called the M-PESA GlobalPay Visa virtual card that enables you to shop on international websites.
Given that cards are accepted almost everywhere and have been conveniently integrated on eCommerce platforms, the M-PESA GlobalPay Visa Virtual card adds more convenience to your online shopping experience.
The M-PESA GlobalPay Visa virtual card makes an easy way for you to pay for goods and services from international websites. All you have to do is load some cash into your M-PESA account and use it to buy anything you want.
Paying using the M-PESA GlobalPay virtual visa card is easy and convenient. The process is simple, and it is not entirely different from using an actual credit or debit card online. The only difference is that you do it from the comfort of your phone through the M-PESA Super App or through *334#.
How to Pay Using the M-PESA GlobalPay Visa
Whether you are buying online, paying for air travel, or booking a hotel online, your M-PESA GlobalPay Visa virtual card is the easiest and most convenient option. It includes a 16-digit card number, the expiry date, and the security code, commonly known as the CVV.
Being a virtual card, the M-PESA GlobalPay generates all these details for you to use in an instant.
Here’s a step by step process on how to use the M-PESA GlobalPay Visa Virtual Card.
First, download the M-PESA App on Google Playstore or Apple Store and activate the M-PESA GlobalPay. Details on how to activate on M-PESA App and USSD Code are found here.
To check your card details, follow the following procedure:
- Log in to your M-PESA Super App
- Tap the Grow button
- Choose GolbalPay
- Then click on ‘Show Card Details’ to display the 16-digit number for the transaction and the CVV
- Enter your info as it appears on your GlobalPay virtual visa (this includes the credit card number, expiration date, and security code (CVV)
If you are using the USSD Code:
- Dial *334# on the number linked to your M-PESA GlobalPay
- Choose ‘Lipa Na M-PESA’
- Select’ GlobalPay’
- Then click on Option 1 for ‘View Card Details’
- Enter Your M-PESA Pin – you will receive a flash SMS with your card number.
- To enter the security code for the checkout, repeat the steps from 1 to 3
- After choosing GlobalPay, choose ‘Generate CVV.’
- Enter your M-PESA PIN, confirm your PIN, and you will receive a message with a CVV that expires after 30 minutes.
After that, you can enter your billing address or any other information the site you are using to pay requires and check out the transaction. It is, however, essential to verify your information by checking whether everything you have entered is correct before checking out.
Why Use the M-PESA GlobalPay for Online Payments?
- It is secure, safe, and convenient
The M-PESA GlobalPay virtual visa is not just easy to use but also safe and secure. The virtual card is not linked directly to your bank account but to your mobile number. This means that all the card details required to complete a transaction are only known to you. Most importantly, the security code (CVV) used to authenticate the transaction, once generated, expires after 30 minutes. This means that it cannot be re-used.
The card is also convenient since you can use it anywhere, especially since you carry your phone everywhere, and it is safer than cash!
- You can track your expenses and budget
When you pay for online purchases using the M-PESA GlobalPay, you can account for where your money has gone. You get a record of every transaction, always available upon request using a simple procedure that takes less than a minute. This allows you to track your expenses periodically, giving you an overview of your financial situation.
- You can book and travel easy
If you are looking at traveling the world, booking hotel rooms, or air tickets, the M-PESA GlobalPay Visa virtual card couldn’t come handier. You can use it to secure a hotel room when making an online reservation or pay for an air ticket without leaving the comfort of your home. The process is easy and smooth.
- You can pay for a streaming service conveniently
Got a Netflix, Hulu, Disney +, or Apple Tv subscription? You can now pay for it conveniently using the M-PESA GlobalPay Visa virtual card without a hassle.
Things to Keep in Mind While shopping with M-PESA GlobalPay
- You can only pay to international online merchants such as Netflix, Amazon, AliExpress, etc. For a transaction initiated to a local online merchant, e.g., Jumia, the M-PESA Customer will receive an appropriate message on the checkout option advising them to use Lipa na M-PESA option.
- You cannot use Fuliza with M-PESA GlobalPay to pay for goods and services
- M-PESA customer limits will apply, i.e., minimum amount of 110 shillings and a maximum of 150,000 shillings per transaction with a maximum transaction limit of 300,000 shillings per day. The minimum amount will change based on the prevailing USD – KES rate.
Have you activated your M-PESA GlobalPay yet? Give it a try! Download the M-PESA Super App today, activate it, and be among the first ones to enjoy rewards on Eliud Kipchoge’s limited-edition merchandise.