Investment

Safaricom Launches M-PESA GlobalPay to Facilitate Online Payments on Global eCommerce Sites

BY Lynnet Okumu · June 2, 2022 08:06 pm

KEY POINTS

The M-PESA GlobalPay is linked to your M-PESA wallet as a virtual visa card. It lets you make payments to International online merchants for goods and services using card details that are automatically generated, just like the actual visa card.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

M-PESA GlobalPay Virtual Visa Card can be used on any international online merchants such as Netflix, Amazon, AliExpress, etc. It does not work for local eCommerce sites such as Jumia since you can use the Lipa na M PESA and Buy Goods option on your M-PESA menu.

In early May 2021, Visa and Safaricom announced a strategic partnership bringing together M-PESA’s 30 million customers, more than 492,000 businesses, and Visa’s global merchant and card network across 200 countries. Well, the strategic partnership, has culminated in the launch of a convenient product known as the M-PESA GlobalPay Virtual Visa Card.

The M-PESA GlobalPay Virtual Visa Card is a game-changer in the world of eCommerce. Gone are the days when you couldn’t shop on international eCommerce sites because you didn’t have a visa card.

This new product brings the world to you ensuring that you can shop on any platform – whether Amazon, Aliexpress, Alibaba, and eBay, among others. It enables you to shop across the globe using funds in your M-PESA wallet in a virtually secure, seamless, and simple manner. The virtual card opens a new world of possibilities in sending money across borders and shopping online for your favorite items.

Accessible through the M-PESA Super app, which was launched in June 2021, the M-PESA GlobalPay Virtual Visa Card helps customers make convenient payments for international flights, booking hotels, buying gift vouchers, and payment of utilities, to name a few.

How Does the M-PESA GlobalPay Virtual Visa Card Work?

The card includes a 16-digit card number, expiry date (MM/YY), and a CVV (security code) for authentic online transactions.

The service is, however, only available to M-PESA registered customers only. It can only be activated using the M-PESA Super App or the USSD Code *334#.

Here’s how to activate it:

M-PESA USSD (*334#):

Dial *334#
Select Lipa na M-PESA (Option 6)
Select M-PESA GlobalPay (Option 5)

On M-PESA APP:

Log in to your M-PESA APP.
Select Pay tab
Select M-PESA GlobalPay

Select the Grow Tab.
Select the application tab to activate your M-PESA GlobalPay.
Select your card color.
Card details will be displayed on your M-PESA GlobalPay card.

Once your virtual visa card is activated, your Safaricom mobile phone number is linked to a 16-digit Primary Account Number (PAN) that’s randomly generated. Only one card is permitted for an M-PESA customer. It does not support multiple M-PESA numbers.

The M-PESA GlobalPay Virtual Visa Card expires after 3 years but automatically becomes inactive after 6 months of no use.

What Merchants Site Use the Virtual Visa Card, and How Are Payments Made?

M-PESA GlobalPay Virtual Visa Card can be used on any international online merchants such as Netflix, Amazon, AliExpress, etc. It does not work for local eCommerce sites such as Jumia since you can use the Lipa na M PESA and Buy Goods option on your M-PESA menu.

There are numerous transactions you can do using the virtual card, including:

Online Shopping – paying for goods and services on eCommerce platforms
Travel – making secure payments on global travel websites
eLearning/online learning – making payments for online courses and or paying for classes for international universities.
Bulk Payments – make easy payments on global bulk buying websites.
Paying for streaming services like Netflix.

While making payments, it is worth noting that the card does not store balances but will mirror the M-PESA wallet balance, which you can use to make purchases online. When you initiate a transaction, a CVV (3-digit security number) will be provided or sent as a message to you. This three-digit number is what you will use as a security to process the transaction. It expires after 30 minutes.

Also, the normal M-PESA limits will apply while paying using the M-PESA GlobalPay Virtual Visa Card. The minimum amount you can transact is 110 shillings, and the maximum transaction amount is 150,000 shillings. The usual daily limit on M-PESA of Ksh300,000 still applies.

While the transaction cost is zero, Safaricom offers a very competitive 3.5% markup

on the prevailing forex rate to exchange from billing currency (Ksh) to the currency at the time of purchase – USD, GBP, etc. This is more affordable compared to other options in the market.

Activate Your M-PESA GlobalPay Today and Get Discounts on Eliud Kipchoge’s Limited Edition Merchandise

Many good tidings accompany the M-PESA GlobalPay Virtual Visa Card. For one, the first customers to activate their virtual visa card can get access to the Eliud Kipchoge limited edition merchandise.

The items include the EK branded running shoes, jackets, running gear, water bottles, and many more! The catch, however, is that you can only purchase these items using the virtual card.

There’s a lot more in store waiting for you. Download the M-PESA App today on Google Playstore or Apple Store, activate M-PESA GlobalPay, and shop the world! Time to take advantage of the many discounts and items on sale offered by all the international eCommerce websites.