Kuva’s fintech push to become a formidable player in payments and remittance infrastructure has taken a huge leap with the InnBucks Bank joint venture, an initiative set to redefine how diaspora remittances reach Zimbabwe and Sub-Saharan Africa.
InnBucks Direct, a new app, lets diaspora users instantly transfer funds to InnBucks Zim wallets. Remittances are now faster and easier for daily spending in Zimbabwe. Millions of Zimbabweans already use InnBucks to send and receive money locally. Now, diaspora users in the UK can send money directly to the wallets their loved ones in Zimbabwe use to withdraw cash.
InnBucks Direct moves funds instantly from sender to receiver. Its extensive cash distribution network meets people where they are, on a platform they already use. The system helps customers access money quickly, conveniently, and reliably every time.
Speaking on the initiative, Kuva Chief Executive Officer Andreiko Kerdemelidis framed the InnBucks Direct rollout as a commitment to innovation that actually sustains value for users over time.
“Innovation in payments should not be a one-off promise; it must be sustainable, measurable, and tailored to the lived reality of customers. With InnBucks Direct, we are bringing a smarter remittance experience, faster transfers, and dependable access through a distribution network that customers can count on,” he said.
The product’s selling points match its focus on practical innovation. The joint venture uses a large cash distribution network supported by trusted retail brands. These include Simbisa brands’ fast-service restaurants, such as Chicken Inn, Pizza Inn, and Bakers Inn, as well as Steers, Profarmer stores, Pick’n Pay, Edgars, and Jet Stores.
Collectively, the network provides access at over 350 cash pickup points countrywide, giving customers more options and fewer “out of reach” moments when they need funds immediately.
InnBucks Direct offers cash pickup at key locations like Chicken Inn. Some pickup points stay open until 8pm, while others run 24 hours. This extended availability especially helps recipients who cannot collect funds during standard working hours. It also improves the overall customer experience beyond simply sending money.
The product’s clear consumer benefits depend on a strong foundation. Kuva Project Consultant Nqobani Moyo said the project focuses on efficiency and tailored service delivery, not just technology for its own sake.
“We didn’t build InnBucks Direct only to show a product; we built it to solve a problem in a way that customers feel immediately. Instant UK-to-InnBucks wallet transfers, low-cost sending, and a large, accessible cash pickup footprint are all part of ensuring the service remains useful, sustainable, and genuinely convenient for Zimbabweans,” he said.
For diaspora communities, the message is straightforward: InnBucks Direct is designed to cut the time between sending and receiving and make cash pickup easier through a footprint already embedded in everyday retail life.
The Kuva-InnBucks joint venture shows that Zimbabwe’s payments ecosystem focuses on both the last 100 meters and the technology behind remittances. If people fully use InnBucks Direct, it could become one of the most practical diaspora-to-recipient channels. This innovation delivers money in a way that fits real life in Africa.
Simbisa Brands plans to expand into all Sub-Saharan African markets where it operates quick-service restaurants. This region represents a USD54 billion annual market. InnBucks Bank has made a strategic bet on this venture with Kuva, showing confidence in its technology and infrastructure. The evidence suggests this move is more than just an investment in a new remittance app. It marks an early position in scalable fintech and banking infrastructure.
