Orange Money, (please add some description) has partnered with South African fintech JUMO to deliver mobile credit services to millions of unbanked users across Africa. The new offering allows customers to request microloans directly from their mobile wallets, with approvals based on AI-driven analysis of transaction data.
Orange has over 110 million mobile subscribers in 17 countries. In 2024, it processed €160 billion in transactions. JUMO says it has distributed $8 billion in loans to 31 million users across Africa. Its system assesses creditworthiness from mobile activity like airtime top-ups and transfers.
The new service will start in Burkina Faso, with Mali and Botswana next. Users apply through the Orange Money app or USSD. JUMO’s algorithm reviews transaction history and approves or rejects requests instantly. Approved loans are paid into the mobile wallet. Repayments are deducted automatically.
The South African fintech expects to keep lending risk below 4% by using mobile transaction patterns instead of credit scores or collateral.
The partnership adds to JUMO’s existing footprint across Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, Tanzania, Côte d’Ivoire, and Pakistan. Its platform powers mobile credit products for telcos like MTN and Airtel, and for global banks including Ecobank and Absa.
SponsoredThe Orange rollout mirrors other telco-fintech models seen across the continent. In Nigeria, PalmPay, backed by Chinese investors, offers loans, insurance, and savings via mobile to over 35 million users, many of whom lack traditional banking access.
By connecting telco infrastructure with automated credit scoring, Orange and JUMO are pushing into markets where bank lending has historically lagged. JUMO’s backend also supports multi-country, multi-product lending strategies, enabling Orange to run credit products across regions and customer segments.
Orange Money CEO Aminata Kane said the partnership is about meeting everyday needs, describing it as a way to “support customers in their personal projects and help them manage everyday emergencies.” She added that the service would roll out across “a wide range of countries.”
JUMO founder Andrew Watkins-Ball framed the deal as an access point for underserved users and new markets for lenders. “This collaboration will provide customers with great financial choices,” he said, “and allows our bank partners to grow in new markets.”
With Orange now testing its credit system in Francophone markets and JUMO expanding into Nigeria and Cameroon, the rollout could reshape how mobile users across Africa access short-term credit, without relying on traditional banks.
