KCB Bank Kenya has been named the Top Acquiring Partner for the first half of 2025 by Mastercard, a recognition that affirms the bank’s strong performance in expanding card acceptance infrastructure and enabling digital transactions for merchants across East Africa. The KCB-Mastercard Partnership combines Mastercard’s global payment expertise with KCB’s regional reach, offering merchants robust tools to grow their businesses and improve customer experiences.
1. Enhanced Payment Acceptance and Transaction Efficiency
Through the partnership, KCB enables merchants to accept card payments from Mastercard holders across various segments, prepaid, debit, credit, and contactless. This includes compatibility with premium World and World Elite cards, youth prepaid cards, corporate cards, and more. Merchants also benefit from innovative acceptance technologies such as QR codes, Tap on Phone, and contactless payments, ensuring secure and efficient transactions.
With Mastercard’s network of over 100 million merchants in more than 210 countries and territories, KCB merchants are part of a global acceptance ecosystem, giving them access to a much wider customer base.
2. Access to Micro-Credit through the Jaza Duka Program
The Jaza Duka Program, jointly developed by Mastercard, KCB Bank, and Unilever, empowers small retailers by giving them interest-free micro-credit for up to 17 days to restock inventory. Credit access is determined using real-time data from Unilever’s distribution network and Mastercard’s analytics tools, enabling KCB Bank to offer credit even to merchants with no formal credit history.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the program was expanded to provide over $150,000 in credit, in addition to distributing free health products and tailored business training. This support helped keep many micro-retailers in operation during a time when 75% of Kenya’s SMEs were at risk of closing, according to the Central Bank of Kenya.
This initiative not only cushions merchants during liquidity crunches but also strengthens their long-term sustainability by improving inventory turnover and meeting customer demand.
3. Increased Financial Inclusion and Digital Transformation
The KCB-Mastercard Partnership is instrumental in formalizing small and medium enterprises by transitioning them from cash-based operations to digital financial services. This includes onboarding merchants into the KCB mobile banking app, internet banking, and card-based platforms, all of which improve transparency, reduce theft, and offer real-time financial oversight.
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By enabling merchants to manage funds digitally, the partnership supports e-commerce transactions, cross-border payments, and remittance reception, opening doors for merchants to sell online and access global clientele. These tools also reduce the cost and complexity of running a business, especially for informal traders and SMEs in rural or peri-urban areas.
The collaboration aligns with Kenya’s digital payments momentum, building on the success of platforms like M-Pesa, and complements the country’s broader shift toward financial digitization.
4. Exclusive Discounts and Incentives for Customers
Merchants gain indirectly through Mastercard-linked promotions that boost customer spending at participating outlets. For example, KCB-Mastercard cardholders have access to discounts at over 200 affiliated merchants, with reward schemes like Simba Points, which are redeemable for airtime, cash, and shopping vouchers.
A recent offer included a 20% discount on online purchases at Carrefour when shoppers use the code MA20 and pay with a KCB Mastercard. Such incentives encourage cardholders to spend more and return frequently, translating to higher sales volumes for merchants. These promotions are particularly effective in driving foot traffic and e-commerce engagement in sectors like retail, hospitality, and restaurants.
By being part of this ecosystem, merchants increase visibility, customer loyalty, and transaction frequency.
5. Support for Business Growth and Market Expansion
The partnership provides merchants with tools that help scale their operations regionally. With KCB’s presence in Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Burundi, merchants are supported as they expand into new markets. The Mastercard platform ensures they can transact with diverse customer profiles, including international travelers, diaspora clients, and online shoppers.
Merchants using Mastercard acceptance tools can also tap into real-time currency conversion, online payment portals, and transaction management dashboards, all of which enhance efficiency and data-driven decision-making. High-end products like the World Elite Credit Card and Platinum Multi-Currency Prepaid Card attract higher-spending customers, boosting revenues at merchant locations.
Additionally, Mastercard and KCB provide marketing support and awareness campaigns that promote merchant businesses across East Africa.
Jefferson Wachira is a writer at Africa Digest News, specializing in banking and finance trends, and their impact on African economies.