M-PESA Tariff FAQs

For Customers:

What are the new tariffs about?

With the new tariffs, you now have the choice to select from more bands when you want to send money via M-PESA.

The M-PESA tariff review has seen the introduction of 11 new tariff bands so as to rationalise the previous disparities between transaction amounts and charges levied.

Why have you reviewed the old tariffs?

The new tariffs come into effect following the amendments contained in the Finance Act of 2012 which introduces a 10% excise duty tax on transaction fees for all money transfer services provided by cellular phone providers, banks, money transfer agencies and other financial service providers. Tariffs for transactions worth more than Kshs 101 will go up by 10% with charges for transactions under Kshs.100 remaining unchanged.

Why can't I transfer over Ksh35,000 to unregistered subscribers?

Due to Know Your Customer (KYC)/Anti Money Laundering (AML) policy set by the Central Bank of Kenya, we do not have the mandate to allow transfers of amounts over Ksh35,000.

With the changes in tariffs, have you increased the amounts one can send?

No, the maximum amount one can send remains the same. You can send up to Ksh70,000 in one transaction. The maximum you can send in a day is Ksh140,000. You can only hold up to Ksh100,000 in your M-PESA account.

What is the lowest amount of money I can send on M-PESA?

You can now send as little as Ksh10 on M-PESA. You can also make both payments at kiosks and micro-payments within the lower bands

How much will it cost me to send Ksh10?

It will cost you Ksh3 to send any amount between Ksh10 and Ksh50.

How much will I be charged to send 1000 shillings?

The cost of sending between Ksh 501 to Ksh 5,000 is Ksh 33.

How much does it cost to withdraw Ksh50?

It will now cost you Ksh10 to withdraw between Ksh50 and Ksh100.

How much will it cost me to withdraw Ksh100?

The cost of withdrawing is Ksh 10 for registered M-PESA customers.

Can I still withdraw at an ATM?

Yes you can. You are allowed to make multiple cash withdrawals from the ATM. However the maximum withdrawal amount is limited to Ksh70,000 per day. Withdrawals vary from Ksh20,000-Ksh30,000 depending on the ATM.

How do I know what else has changed with the tariffs?

Visit your agent outlet for more details on the tariffs. You can also visit our website www.safaricom.co.ke or call M-PESA customer care on 234.

When will the new tariffs take effect?

The new tariffs take effect on 8th February 2013.

For Agents:

Why have you changed the commission structure?

• The new commission structure is aimed at ensuring agents getter better rewards on high value transactions and as an incentive to hold adequate float. As a result deposit commissions have increased by 12% - 170% across the bands.
• With this tariff review, we have also introduced the lower band of Ksh10 – Ksh49 for transfers and micropayments to enable more Kenyans to use the services hence driving Financial Inclusion.
• We have also reduced the withdrawal tariffs in some of the bands to encourage agents to push for more deposit transactions.
• We have added an additional 11 transaction bands to curb split and direct deposits for which you suffer serious penalties through unscrupulous agent assistants.

Why have you increased the bands?

We have increased the bands in an effort to provide more choices for customers especially those who want to send lower amounts. We have also increased the bands to curb split and direct deposits from agents. The new bands will allow agents to enjoy higher commissions in the various band categories.

How is the new commission structure?

We have increased the commissions on deposits on 16 of the 19 bands. The other 3 bands remain constant on the commissions as per the previous bands.

Why are my commissions in some bands being reduced?

In an effort to encourage more deposit transactions, we have almost doubled or tripled the commissions on deposits on some bands; as such we have slightly reduced some withdrawal commissions in some bands.

When will the new commissions take effect?

The new commissions took effect in month of March 2011.