In today’s top Europe, Middle East and Africa news, U.K.-based Deliveroo signs delivery agreement with French food chain, and bank branch fees are instituted in Europe to reduce in-person transactions. Plus, Dutch payments firm TerraPay and MTN Uganda partner to offer “Digital Mobility,” and the CEO of MFS Africa discusses the challenges of cross-border payments across Africa.
UK’s Deliveroo Signs Delivery Agreement With French Food Chain
The U.K. delivery service Deliveroo has formed an agreement with the French frozen food company Picard Groupe SAS to provide countrywide express deliveries. As Bloomberg News reported on Monday (Nov. 15), the deal will see Deliveroo’s express delivery service offered in more than 100 cities throughout France.
Bank Branch Fees Instituted in Europe to Reduce In-Person Transactions
Branch usage fees are being instituted by banks across Europe to lower the number of in-person transactions that could have been accomplished online, Reuters reported on Monday (Nov. 15). At Spain’s CaixaBank, for example, most customers will pay €2 to handle a transaction in-person at a branch when it could have been done online.
The fees are part of an attempt by European financial institutions to reduce the financial pain of negative interest rates and the overhead of operating dense networks of retail bank branches.
TerraPay-MTN Uganda Partnership to Offer “Digital Mobility”
Dutch payments infrastructure company TerraPay has joined forces with MTN Mobile Money Uganda Limited to power speedy transfers to beneficiaries in places like China and India.
Stephen Mutana, CEO of MTN, said in a press release that the partnership exemplifies the company’s belief that “everyone deserves the benefits of a modern connected life.”
Repairing Regulatory Fragmentation Will Spur Cross-Border Payments Across Africa
Cross-border payments are an integral part of day-to-day operations for individuals and businesses in Africa but transferring funds across the 54 countries in the region is not without its challenges.
Dare Okoudjou, founder and CEO of MFS Africa, tells PYMNTS that the pan-African payments provider is “wiring up Africa” as it overcomes regulatory setbacks that have held back the growth of cross-border payments on the continent.
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