KCB Bank Kenya and Visa today announced a landmark collaboration to roll out Tap-to-Phone contactless payment acceptance solution, unlocking a new frontier of flexibility and convenience for merchants across the country.
Through this collaboration, business owners will be able to accept card payments directly on their Near-Field Communications (NFC) enabled Android smartphones without the need for a traditional point-of-sale (POS) machine. This innovation significantly lowers the cost of digital payments, especially for SMEs that often face barriers due to the expenses related to the purchase of POS infrastructure.
Speaking during the announcement, KCB Bank Kenya Director of Retail Banking, Jane Isiaho said: “This collaboration with Visa brings to life a powerful solution that gives every merchant the ability to accept digital payments using just a smartphone. We are simplifying access to payment acceptance, reducing operational costs, and empowering merchants to serve customers faster and more securely.”
Equity vs KCB: How Kenya’s two largest banks performed in Q3 2025
The Tap-to-Phone solution is backed by the Visa Acceptance Platform which enables secure payment acceptance and tokenization technology, ensuring every transaction is protected to global standards. The solution is also part of the bank’s digital and innovation strategy through which the bank is increasingly offering seamless payment solutions to cater for the ever-changing consumer needs.
On his part, John Njoroge Visa Country Manager and Senior Business Development Leader for Kenya, South Sudan, and Somalia, emphasized the importance of enabling merchant growth through digital innovation: “Visa is proud to collaborate with KCB to expand access to safe, fast, and affordable payment acceptance for businesses across Kenya. Tap-to-Phone eliminates traditional barriers by turning the devices merchants already own into secure acceptance tools. This is how we unlock scale, drive inclusion, and build a stronger digital economy.”
This joint effort builds on KCB’s ongoing investments to empower customers and merchants by strengthening digital platforms and ensuring a robust support system. It also reinforces the shared commitment between the two entities to accelerating Kenya’s digital transformation, expanding financial inclusion, and empowering businesses to thrive in a modern, technology-driven marketplace.
