M-Pesa is a mobile phone-based money transfer, financing and microfinancing service. The service allows users to deposit, withdraw, transfer money and pay for goods and services (Lipa na M-Pesa) easily with a mobile device. As a branchless banking service; users can deposit and withdraw money from a network of agents that includes airtime resellers and retail outlets acting as banking agents. Users are charged a small fee for sending and withdrawing money using the service. Mpesa charges will depend on the amount you are sending or withdrawing.
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What you need to know about M-Pesa
Here are some things you need to know about Mpesa.
- Maximum account balance is Ksh 300,000
- Maximum daily transaction value is Ksh 300,000
- Maximum amount per transaction is Ksh 150,000
- You cannot withdraw less than Ksh 50 at an Mpesa agent outlet
- To initiate Mpesa person to person self reversal, send the transaction confirmation message to 456
- To transact, your Safaricom line and Mpesa account must be active
- At an agent outlet, you cannot deposit money directly into another Mpesa customer’s account
- You earn Bonga points when you transact on Mpesa
- To transact at any Mpesa agent outlet, you will be required to produce your original identification document, i.e., National ID or Kenyan Passport
- You get 3 free transactions per day for amounts Ksh 1 to Ksh 100, thereafter Ksh 1 for (Ksh 1 – Ksh 49) and Ksh 2 (Ksh 50 – Ksh 100) will apply
- Dial *234# to view applicable charges or use Mpesa cost calculator on mySafaricom App
- An unregistered customer can withdraw money sent to them by an Mpesa customer in Kenya from any agent within 7 days, but cannot carry out other Mpesa transactions
- Unregistered customers will have to register within 21 days to receive funds via the IMT service
- Registered customers can withdraw cash from participating ATM networks. The maximum you can withdraw from your Mpesa account from an ATM is Ksh 20,000
- You can use your Mpesa menu to buy airtime for your phone, or for someone else. This service is free and you will only pay for the airtime purchased
M-Pesa transfer charges
Here are the Mpesa transfer charges.
a. Transfer to unregistered users
Minimum | Maximum | Charges |
Ksh 1 | Ksh 49 | N/A |
Ksh 50 | Ksh 100 | N/A |
Ksh 101 | Ksh 500 | Ksh 45 |
Ksh 501 | Ksh 1,000 | Ksh 49 |
Ksh 1,001 | Ksh 1,500 | Ksh 59 |
Ksh 1,501 | Ksh 2,500 | Ksh 74 |
Ksh 2,501 | Ksh 3,500 | Ksh 112 |
Ksh 3,501 | Ksh 5,000 | Ksh 135 |
Ksh 5,001 | Ksh 7,500 | Ksh 166 |
Ksh 7,501 | Ksh 10,000 | Ksh 205 |
Ksh 10,001 | Ksh 15,000 | Ksh 265 |
Ksh 15,001 | Ksh 20,000 | Ksh 288 |
Ksh 20,001 | Ksh 35,000 | Ksh 309 |
Ksh 35,001 | Ksh 50,000 | N/A |
Ksh 50,001 | Ksh 150,000 | N/A |
b. Transfer to other Mpesa users, Pochi La Biashara and Business Till To customer
Minimum | Maximum | Charges |
Ksh 1 | Ksh 49 | Free |
Ksh 50 | Ksh 100 | Free |
Ksh 101 | Ksh 500 | Ksh 6 |
Ksh 501 | Ksh 1,000 | Ksh 12 |
Ksh 1,001 | Ksh 1,500 | Ksh 22 |
Ksh 1,501 | Ksh 2,500 | Ksh 32 |
Ksh 2,501 | Ksh 3,500 | Ksh 51 |
Ksh 3,501 | Ksh 5,000 | Ksh 55 |
Ksh 5,001 | Ksh 7,500 | Ksh 75 |
Ksh 7,501 | Ksh 10,000 | Ksh 87 |
Ksh 10,001 | Ksh 15,000 | Ksh 97 |
Ksh 15,001 | Ksh 20,000 | Ksh 102 |
Ksh 20,001 | Ksh 35,000 | Ksh 105 |
Ksh 35,001 | Ksh 50,000 | Ksh 105 |
Ksh 50,001 | Ksh 150,000 | Ksh 105 |
c. Transfer to other mobile money users
Minimum | Maximum | Charges |
Ksh 1 | Ksh 49 | N/A |
Ksh 50 | Ksh 100 | N/A |
Ksh 101 | Ksh 500 | Ksh 6 |
Ksh 501 | Ksh 1,000 | Ksh 12 |
Ksh 1,001 | Ksh 1,500 | Ksh 22 |
Ksh 1,501 | Ksh 2,500 | Ksh 32 |
Ksh 2,501 | Ksh 3,500 | Ksh 51 |
Ksh 3,501 | Ksh 5,000 | Ksh 55 |
Ksh 5,001 | Ksh 7,500 | Ksh 75 |
Ksh 7,501 | Ksh 10,000 | Ksh 87 |
Ksh 10,001 | Ksh 15,000 | Ksh 97 |
Ksh 15,001 | Ksh 20,000 | Ksh 102 |
Ksh 20,001 | Ksh 35,000 | Ksh 105 |
Ksh 35,001 | Ksh 50,000 | Ksh 105 |
Ksh 50,001 | Ksh 150,000 | Ksh 105 |
M-Pesa withdrawal charges
Here are the Mpesa withdrawal charges.
a. Withdrawal from Mpesa agent
Minimum | Maximum | Charges |
Ksh 1 | Ksh 49 | N/A |
Ksh 50 | Ksh 100 | Ksh 10 |
Ksh 101 | Ksh 500 | Ksh 27 |
Ksh 501 | Ksh 1,000 | Ksh 28 |
Ksh 1,001 | Ksh 1,500 | Ksh 28 |
Ksh 1,501 | Ksh 2,500 | Ksh 28 |
Ksh 2,501 | Ksh 3,500 | Ksh 50 |
Ksh 3,501 | Ksh 5,000 | Ksh 67 |
Ksh 5,001 | Ksh 7,500 | Ksh 84 |
Ksh 7,501 | Ksh 10,000 | Ksh 112 |
Ksh 10,001 | Ksh 15,000 | Ksh 162 |
Ksh 15,001 | Ksh 20,000 | Ksh 180 |
Ksh 20,001 | Ksh 35,000 | Ksh 191 |
Ksh 35,001 | Ksh 50,000 | Ksh 270 |
Ksh 50,001 | Ksh 150,000 | Ksh 300 |
b. ATM withdrawal
Minimum | Maximum | Charges |
Ksh 200 | Ksh 2,500 | Ksh 34 |
Ksh 2,501 | Ksh 5,000 | Ksh 67 |
Ksh 5,001 | Ksh 10,000 | Ksh 112 |
Ksh 10,001 | Ksh 20,000 | Ksh 197 |
Other transactions
Other transactions | Charges |
All deposits | Free |
Mpesa registration | Free |
Buying airtime through Mpesa | Free |
Mpesa balance enquiry | Free |
Change Mpesa PIN | Free |
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