How to Use PesaLink in Kenya: Send, Link Your Phone, Limits and Fees (2026)

PesaLink is Kenya's instant bank-to-bank transfer service. You open your bank's app, internet banking or USSD menu, pick PesaLink, and send up to KES 999,999 to an account at another bank, or to a phone number linked to one. The money lands in seconds, any time of day, weekends and public holidays included.

It's also become cheap. Since 2026, KCB, Co-op Bank, NCBA, Absa, DTB and about 20 other banks charge nothing up to KES 1,000 and a flat KES 20 above that. To see what your bank charges for a specific amount, use our PesaLink charges calculator, which compares every bank.

What is PesaLink and how does it work?

PesaLink is a payment network run by Integrated Payment Services Limited (IPSL), a company owned by the Kenya Bankers Association and set up in 2015 under the National Payment System Act. It connects more than 80 institutions: banks, SACCOs, microfinance banks and fintechs.

When you send, money moves straight from your account to the recipient's account. There's no agent, no wallet in the middle and no waiting for the next working day. You'll usually both get an SMS once it goes through, and the transfer shows on both bank statements.

You don't sign up with PesaLink itself. It's built into your bank's own channels, so if you have mobile or internet banking, you almost certainly have PesaLink already. If it's missing from your menu, ask your bank to switch it on.

How to send money with PesaLink

You can send to a bank account (you need the bank and account number) or to a phone number that the recipient has linked to their account. Sending to a phone number is easier, because you don't need to know where they bank.

On your bank's mobile app

1. Open your bank's app and log in.

2. Tap Transfers (or Payments) and choose PesaLink.

3. Choose Send to phone or Send to account.

4. Enter the recipient's mobile number, or select their bank and type the account number.

5. Enter the amount and an optional reference.

6. Check the recipient, amount and fee on the confirmation screen, then confirm with your PIN.

On USSD (no data needed)

1. Dial your bank's USSD code and enter your PIN.

2. Select PesaLink.

3. Choose Send to phone, or send to an account and select the recipient's bank.

4. Enter the details and amount, then confirm.

On internet banking

1. Log in and go to Payments/Transfers, then Local transfers or PesaLink.

2. Add the recipient as a beneficiary (bank and account number) and confirm with the one-time code your bank sends.

3. Select the beneficiary, enter the amount and reference, and send.

Menu names differ slightly between banks, but PesaLink always sits with the other transfer options.

How to link your phone number to PesaLink

Linking lets people pay you with just your mobile number. You do it once, through your own bank:

1. Open your bank's app or USSD menu and go to PesaLink.

2. Choose Link your phone (or Register).

3. Pick the account that should receive money sent to your number.

4. Confirm.

At I&M Bank, for example, it's PesaLink → Link your Phone → select account in the app or on *458#. Your number points to one account, so choose the one you want payments to land in.

How much does PesaLink cost?

The sending bank sets the fee, and receiving is free. As of October 2026:

| Sending bank | KES 5,000 | KES 50,000 | KES 500,000 |

|---|---|---|---|

| KCB, Co-op, NCBA, Absa, Stanbic, DTB and ~20 others | KES 20 | KES 20 | KES 20 |

| Standard Chartered | KES 40 | KES 80 | KES 200 |

| I&M Bank | KES 44 | KES 66 | KES 131 |

| Equity Bank | KES 50 | KES 50 | KES 100 |

| Family Bank | KES 50 | KES 60 | KES 150 |

These are the banks' published fees. Most quote them before the 15% excise duty on money transfer charges, so KES 20 becomes about KES 23 on your statement. Transfers of KES 1,000 or less are free at the flat-fee banks and at Equity. GTBank is cheaper still for small amounts: KES 5 from KES 1,001 to KES 5,000.

The PesaLink charges calculator has every bank and every band, plus notes on the catches, like whether the flat fee still applies when the receiving bank isn't on the scheme.

What is the PesaLink limit?

The network limit is KES 999,999 per transaction. Your bank can set lower limits, per transaction or per day, for security. If you hit one, ask your bank to raise it.

That ceiling is a big reason people use PesaLink for rent, school fees, paying suppliers or moving savings. M-Pesa tops out at KES 250,000 per transaction, and a bank RTGS transfer costs far more: Equity and Standard Chartered both charge KES 500.

How long does PesaLink take?

Seconds. PesaLink works 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, including weekends and public holidays, and the recipient can use the money straight away.

If a transfer seems stuck, check your bank's transaction history before trying again. Sending twice because the first SMS was slow is an easy way to pay someone double.

Can you send money from PesaLink to M-Pesa?

Not directly. PesaLink moves money between accounts at banks and other member institutions; it doesn't pay into an M-Pesa wallet. To send from your bank to someone's M-Pesa, use your bank's "send to mobile money" option, which has its own fees (compare them with M-Pesa's own charges).

The other direction does work. Since September 2025, M-Pesa has a PesaLink mini app that sends money from your M-Pesa wallet to a bank account, up to KES 500,000 per transfer.

Is there a PesaLink app?

No separate one for customers. PesaLink's official site sends you to your own bank's app, internet banking or USSD code; that's where PesaLink lives.

You'll see "PesaLink" apps and "PesaLink loan" apps in search results and app stores. PesaLink is a payment network, not a lender, and it doesn't need you to download anything. Don't give your bank login or PIN to any app other than your bank's own.

What to watch out for

• Check the details before you confirm. A transfer to the wrong account arrives instantly too. If something looks off afterwards, call your bank immediately; PesaLink's own advice is to contact your bank, which handles any recovery.

• The "wrong number" scam. If a stranger says they sent you money by mistake and asks you to send it back, check your bank statement or app, not the SMS. Fake messages are easy to make. Let your bank handle genuine reversals.

• The fee screen. The flat KES 20 is reported to apply between participating banks. If your app shows a higher fee, the receiving bank may not be on the scheme. You can cancel before confirming.

• Branch transfers. Doing PesaLink over the counter costs more than doing it on your phone. Use the app or USSD.

Frequently asked questions

Who owns PesaLink?

Integrated Payment Services Limited (IPSL), which is owned by the Kenya Bankers Association. It was set up in 2015 under the National Payment System Act and runs PesaLink on behalf of member banks and institutions.

Is PesaLink instant?

Yes. Transfers usually arrive within seconds, 24/7, including weekends and public holidays.

What is the PesaLink limit per day?

PesaLink's limit is KES 999,999 per transaction. Daily limits are set by each bank, so check with yours, and ask it to raise the limit if you need to.

How do I get a PesaLink receipt?

Your bank's app keeps the transaction in its history, usually with a reference number you can share, and the transfer appears on your bank statement.

Can I receive PesaLink money with my phone number?

Yes, once you link your number to an account through your bank's app or USSD menu. Anyone sending by PesaLink can then pay you with just your number.