Equity Bank spins off digital arm as standalone fintech startup

Equity Group Holdings, Kenya’s second-largest bank, is spinning off its tech subsidiary into a commercial entity, dubbed Finserve.

Finserve has been the inspiration for a string of digital and mobile banking innovations at the bank over the past four years, from the launch of Equitel, the Group’s mobile virtual network operator, to tie ups with card schemes, remittance operators and Chinese messaging apps such AliPay and WeChat.

Equity Group CEO and managing director James Mwangi says: “Thanks to fintech innovations by Finserve, 97% of all Equity transactions are now outside the branch. In the spirit of shared prosperity, and having seen the revolutionary impact that fintech capabilities have brought to the Bank, we have taken a deliberate strategy to make Finserve an independent commercial subsidiary that will focus its efforts in delivering solutions to propel the African economy. Equity Group now becomes one of Finserve’s clients for technology solutions.”

The launch coincides with the release of a new payments gateway service and suite of APIs designed to support businesses in processing payments across a proliferation of platforms, from cards to mobile wallets

Jenga APIs provide an integrated platform for businesses to send money, buy, pay, manage their accounts, manage credit, withdraw and conduct KYC, CRB and AML querying.

Finserve MD Jack Ngare, says: “You can now use over 64 fintech, regtech and insuretech APIs to power your business. Currently, Finserve reaches 4 million people daily through its APIs, working with 136 developers and SMEs.”