In a landmark partnership that promises to redefine digital finance access across Uganda, Pearl Bank Uganda (formerly PostBank Uganda) and Stanbic Bank Uganda, the country’s largest commercial bank, have announced the seamless integration of their respective digital wallets, Wendi and FlexiPay. This strategic alliance instantly links over a million users and is being hailed as a major step toward making financial services more affordable and accessible, particularly for rural communities.
The collaboration, announced at a joint press briefing in Kampala, is explicitly designed to support Uganda’s ongoing financial inclusion and digital transformation agenda. The integrated platforms will allow users of both digital wallets to transact seamlessly and at significantly subsidised fees, removing barriers that have traditionally made inter-network digital transactions costly and slow.
Mumba Kenneth Kalifungwa, Chief Executive of Stanbic Bank Uganda, emphasised the consumer benefit, stating: “This partnership is a win for ordinary Ugandans. By connecting FlexiPay and Wendi, we are breaking down digital walls and ensuring that no matter where you live or who you bank with, you can transact safely and affordably.” He highlighted that the move directly supports Stanbic’s focus on Women, Youth, and Farmers (WYF), enabling users to save, access credit, and pay utility bills at low or zero charges on the FlexiPay platform.
Echoing this sentiment, Julius Kakeeto, Managing Director and CEO of Pearl Bank Uganda, underscored Wendi’s role in advancing government programmes like the Parish Development Model (PDM). “Wendi has been at the heart of implementing government programmes that promote financial inclusion across the country,” said Mr Kakeeto. With Wendi already boasting a customer base of over one million and an agent network of over 8,000, the integration with FlexiPay—which has over 17,800 agents and serves more than half a million retail and merchant wallets—offers unparalleled convenience. Mr Kakeeto noted the Wendi wallet’s 10% interest rate on savings and declared the collaboration a big step toward achieving Uganda’s National Financial Inclusion Strategy (2023–2028).
The combined distribution network is expected to have a powerful catalyst effect, promoting cashless trade and supporting livelihoods in deeply rural and peri-urban areas where access to formal financial services remains a challenge, despite overall improvements in national financial inclusion statistics. While access has risen from $52\%$ in 2013 to $68\%$ in 2023, many vulnerable groups remain excluded.
FlexiPay’s integral role in Stanbic’s SACCO programme, and Wendi’s central function in easing government disbursements, alongside its partnership with Western Union for cross-border remittances, mean the combined entity will leverage both commercial scale and national footprint. The partnership is set to be rolled out in phases, beginning with joint awareness campaigns and shared agent support across key agricultural and trading regions, aiming to reach thousands of farmers, youth entrepreneurs, and women-led enterprises, ultimately building stronger, more inclusive local economies.