Network International, a provider of digital payment solutions, announced Monday (July 25) that it will bring WhatsApp for Business banking services to financial institutions across Africa, thanks to a collaboration with the cloud communications company Infobip.
WhatsApp for Business is an enhanced version of WhatsApp’s messaging app with built-in marketing and sales tools.
Commenting on the deal, Network International’s Hany Fekry, group managing director of processing, said: “We are delighted to introduce WhatsApp banking across Africa with Infobip. Helping financial institutions reach customers through a secure and familiar app is in line with our goal to increase and improve digital banking services across the continent to improve financial inclusion.”
Hana Bilbeisi, regional head of partnerships sales at Infobip, added: “Empowering individuals and communities through technology and communication is one of our key values at Infobip. By integrating WhatsApp Business API, Network International customers can now access crucial information anytime, anywhere.”
Founded as a payments subsidiary of Emirates Bank in 1994, Network International has grown its presence across the Middle East and Africa. It now has offices in Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Ghana and Egypt, and operates across almost all other African countries.
The company further entrenched its position as one of the key players in Africa’s digital payments landscape when it acquired rival DPO Group last year.
The WhatsApp Business API is used by many African businesses to message at scale, make use of automation, integrate with eCommerce, build chatbots and track metrics. Yet WhatsApp’s parent company Meta has recently come under scrutiny from authorities in South Africa for potentially anticompetitive business practices.
Read more: Meta Faces Fines for Allegedly Violating Anti-Competition Rules in South Africa
If fined, Meta may be liable to pay up to 10% of its annual revenue from the country.
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