Ecobank Kenya has launched Ecobank Mobile App in Nairobi as part of the fifth iteration of launches of the product over the past four months.

The mobile banking app is already available in Nigeria where its was first launched in October 2016, followed by Ghana, Burkina Faso and Tanzania last week Wednesday. Ecobank says the mobile app enables customers to send and receive money instantly across 32 other African countries, in addition to Kenya.

Ade Ayeyemi, Group CEO of Ecobank told attendees during the Kenya launch that the Ecobank Mobile App was developed after a realisation that Ecobank was getting left behind.

"The mobile app connects everybody on the continent. I went to the African Union with my colleagues to make a pitch in June and July and they asked 'do you have an app?' and then we realised that this app is becoming something that is very important. So we convened a meeting of the senior executives in Lomé, Togo, where we talked about where can we get somebody that can quickly get this working."

Ayeyemi says he believes that digital banking will help to reduce cost and increase convenience for the bank and its customers. The Ecobank Mobile App integrates MasterCard's Masterpass QR mobile payment solution.

The Bank says the app opens up huge opportunities for its customers by allowing them to shop, transact and do business without cash. Ecobank also revealed that the app is the first unified app delivered by any institution for use in 33 countries on the continent.

Sam Adjei, Managing Director at Ecobank Kenya says the app is part of a larger digital offering by the company which built a technology and shared services centre in Accra, starting in 2006, to centralise and standardise middle and back office operations across the group.

"We are proud to launch this innovative digital product in Kenya. The Ecobank Mobile App is part of Ecobank's digital offerings. Known as Ecobank_on, the array supports our drive to digitalise banking in the country and across the continent. By leveraging the power of digital, we are enabling our customers, including our important merchant segment, to grow their businesses and live life with convenience. As the government continues to grow the nation's economy, one of the fastest-growing in Central and Eastern Africa, Ecobank Kenya is here to support that expansion."

Humphrey Muturi, Executive Director for Commercial Banking at Ecobank Kenya emphasised the convenience of the app for the banks Kenyan customers who will now have the opportunity to carry out various transactions on their phones in addition to using the bank's network of 65 ATMS and 69 branches.

Customers will also be able to use the app to open a free digital account called Ecobank Xpress without references, or paperwork according to Ecobank. The bank says statistics on uptake of the app over the last few months in its other African markets are not yet available and will be issued in due course.