By Chisomo Phiri

A new mobile banking company, Epay Limited, on Thursday August 14,2025,officially launched its product in the country called Epay Mobile Money that promises to transform the way Malawians conduct mobile banking, money transfers, and payments.

Speaking during the product launch ceremony at Amaryllis Hotel in Blantyre,Epay Limited Chief Executive Officer(CEO ) Brian Bobby said the company’s innovative platform is designed to remove barriers that have long restricted mobile money services in the country.

“Our product does not restrict any customer to a specific network.Regardless of the mobile network you are using, you can transact on Epay and send payments to other Epay users as if you were all on the same network. This eliminates cross-network charges and ensures convenience for all customers,” said Bobby.

He added that Epay aims to be the most affordable mobile payment service in Malawi, especially during the country’s current economic hardships.

“We know that many Malawians are going through a tough time financially. That is why we have made our transaction charges as affordable as possible, so more people can access and benefit from a mobile payment platform,” said Bobby.

The CEO said Epay services can be accessed through two main channels.

“Non-smartphone users can register and transact by dialing *464#.Smartphone users can download the Epay Wallet Malawi app from the Google Play Store.The app allows self-registration without the need for physical forms.

“To register, customers only need their national ID number. Once registered, they can immediately start sending and receiving money, making payments, and carrying out other transactions,” he said.

Bobby said Epay’s mission is to make mobile banking in the country more inclusive, accessible, and cost-effective.

On his part,the Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM)Executive Director responsible for Financial Sector Regulations, Patrick Muhango, described the launch of Epay platform as a significant step forward in the country’s efforts to deepen financial inclusion and expand access to digital financial services.

He said Epay’s entry into the country’s market is particularly important because it is a locally owned company offering solutions developed with the Malawian context in mind.

“This is a big milestone because the solutions are locally conceptualized and designed.That means the company has considered the realities on the ground, the dynamics, challenges, and security issues that Malawians face  as well as the barriers that prevent some people from participating in such platforms,”  said Mhango.

He added that Epay platform is accessible to both urban and rural populations, helping to bridge the financial services gap across the country.

“This is an effort to get more Malawians to use financial services, not only in towns and cities, but also in rural areas.We see it as a major milestone in advancing our financial inclusion agenda,” he said.

The RBM official pointed out that traditional financial institutions in Malawi still lack infrastructure that reaches every part of the country, making digital financial services a critical tool for broadening access.

“Epay can be used across the nation, providing easy access regardless of location or channel.You do not have to belong to a specific financial institution. As long as you have a platform or service provider, you can send or receive money and carry out transactions,” he explained.

Mhango further observed that mobile money and epayment facilities are now widely available in major retail shops across Malawi, underscoring the growing acceptance of digital payments.

“This is a major milestone for our nation as we work to expand financial services to every Malawian,” he concluded.

Epay Limited was registered in 2022.