Airtel Money and KCB Bank have teamed up, and it’s great news for all of us who love smooth and easy payments. Now, you can pay KCB merchants directly via your Airtel Money wallet thanks to the integration of Lipa na KCB into the Airtel Money ecosystem. Whether shopping for groceries or grabbing a coffee, paying via Airtel Money to KCB paybill numbers just got even easier. And the best part? KCB says you get to enjoy lower transaction charges than market rates while you’re at it.
Here’s a quick guide on how to go about paying with Airtel Money to KCB Paybill numbers using both USSD and My Airtel app.
Paying via My Airtel app
Since My Airtel has Airtel Money baked into the app, you can make direct payments to KCB paybill numbers right from within the app on your Android or iOS phone. Here’s how to work your magic with just a few taps:
- Launch the My Airtel app. If it’s not on your phone, download it from the Google Play Store or iOS App Store, set it up and you’re ready to roll.
- Select “Paybill”
- Choose “Airtel Paybill” and enter the paybill number: 522533
- Enter account number
- Enter amount
- Enter PIN to confirm
Paying via USSD
Feeling a bit old? Don’t worry, no apps are needed here. Just whip out your phone and follow these easy steps:
- Dial *334# and select “Paybill and till payment”
- Select “Paybill”
- Choose “Airtel paybill (including bank paybills)”
- Enter paybill number: 522533
- Enter account number
- Enter amount
- Confirm PIN
Quick note. If you’ve recently had trouble accessing the My Airtel app due to developer options being enabled on your phone (we get it, Android nerds ), you’re not alone. Airtel recently decided to block the app if you have developer options turned on. Apparently, this is to beef up security, especially since the app handles Airtel Money transactions and other personal info.
I’ve found a workaround — reverting to an older version of the app via the APK Mirror. But let’s be honest: using outdated apps for financial services is a bit like walking into a bank vault with a blindfold on. Sure, it works for me, but you’re taking unnecessary risks. The good news? You don’t need to update your app to use the new KCB Paybill feature. I’ve tested it on the old version, and everything works smoothly. Airtel seems to have rolled out this feature server-side, meaning you can still pay KCB paybill merchants without the updated My Airtel app.
And there you have it, folks. Whether you’re a USSD veteran or an app enthusiast, the process is quick, smooth, and — let’s not forget — cheaper.
