Sending money from M-Pesa to a bank account is one of the most common financial transactions in Kenya. Whether you are paying a supplier, sending money to family, or moving funds to your savings account, this guide covers every method, every charge, and what to do when something goes wrong.
Method 1 — Send to Bank Account via M-Pesa Menu
This is the standard method that works for all banks connected to the M-Pesa ecosystem.
Steps:
- Open M-Pesa on your Safaricom line
- Go to Send Money → Send to Bank Account
- Select your bank from the list
- Enter the account number
- Enter the amount
- Enter your M-Pesa PIN to confirm
Banks supported: All major Kenyan banks are connected including KCB, Equity, Co-operative Bank, NCBA, Absa, Standard Chartered, DTB, Family Bank, I&M Bank, and over 30 others.
Method 2 — Using Your Bank's Mobile App
Most Kenyan banks allow you to pull money from M-Pesa directly into your bank account via their mobile app.
Equity Bank — Equity Mobile:
- Open Equity Mobile app
- Go to Move Money → From M-Pesa
- Enter amount and confirm with your app PIN
- Funds arrive instantly
KCB — KCB Mobile:
- Open KCB Mobile app
- Go to Transfers → From M-Pesa
- Enter amount and M-Pesa PIN
- Funds transferred instantly
This method is often free or cheaper than the M-Pesa menu method.
Method 3 — Paybill to Your Own Bank Account
Most banks have a Paybill number for receiving M-Pesa deposits. This is particularly useful when the standard bank transfer method is unavailable.
| Bank | Paybill Number | Account number field |
|---|---|---|
| KCB Bank | 522522 | Your KCB account number |
| Equity Bank | 247247 | Your Equity account number |
| Co-operative Bank | 400200 | Your Co-op account number |
| NCBA Bank | 880100 | Your NCBA account number |
| Absa Bank | 303030 | Your Absa account number |
| Standard Chartered | 329329 | Your StanChart account number |
| Family Bank | 222111 | Your Family Bank account number |
| DTB Bank | 516600 | Your DTB account number |
Steps:
- M-Pesa menu → Lipa na M-Pesa → Pay Bill
- Enter the Business Number (Paybill) for your bank
- Enter your bank account number as the Account Number
- Enter amount and PIN
Transaction Charges — M-Pesa to Bank
Safaricom charges a fee for transferring money from M-Pesa to a bank account. These are the current 2026 charges:
| Amount | Charge |
|---|---|
| KES 10 – 999 | KES 14 |
| KES 1,000 – 1,499 | KES 23 |
| KES 1,500 – 2,499 | KES 33 |
| KES 2,500 – 3,499 | KES 52 |
| KES 3,500 – 4,999 | KES 65 |
| KES 5,000 – 7,499 | KES 78 |
| KES 7,500 – 9,999 | KES 87 |
| KES 10,000 – 14,999 | KES 97 |
| KES 15,000 – 19,999 | KES 109 |
| KES 20,000 – 34,999 | KES 115 |
| KES 35,000 – 49,999 | KES 135 |
| KES 50,000 – 150,000 | KES 162 |
Tip to save on charges: Many banks offer free transfers from their own apps. If you have Equity Mobile or KCB Mobile, use those apps to pull from M-Pesa rather than pushing from M-Pesa — the bank app method is often free.
Transaction Limits
| Type | Daily limit |
|---|---|
| M-Pesa to bank (standard) | KES 150,000 per transaction |
| M-Pesa daily total transactions | KES 300,000 |
| M-Pesa wallet balance | KES 300,000 |
For amounts above KES 150,000, you need to split the transfer into multiple transactions across different days, or use a direct bank-to-bank transfer.
How Long Does It Take?
| Destination | Transfer time |
|---|---|
| KCB M-Pesa linked account | Instant |
| Equity Bank | Instant |
| Co-operative Bank | Instant |
| Most other major banks | Instant to 2 hours |
| Some smaller banks | Up to 24 hours |
If a transfer has not arrived after 24 hours, call Safaricom on 100 (free from Safaricom line) or your bank's customer service.
What to Do If You Send to the Wrong Account
This happens more often than people realise. Here is what to do immediately:
Step 1 — Note the transaction details Write down: the amount, date and time, and the confirmation message reference number (M-Pesa sends a confirmation SMS with a reference code like QAB1234567).
Step 2 — Call Safaricom immediately Call 100 (free from Safaricom) or 0722 000 100. Report the wrong transfer and provide the reference number. Safaricom can attempt to reverse the transaction if the receiving bank has not yet processed it.
Step 3 — Visit your bank Go to your bank branch with your ID and the M-Pesa confirmation SMS. The bank can initiate a reversal request to the receiving bank.
Important: Reversals are not guaranteed. If the recipient has already withdrawn the money, recovery depends on their cooperation. Act as quickly as possible — ideally within 30 minutes of the wrong transfer.
Summary
| Method | Speed | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| M-Pesa menu → Send to Bank | Instant | KES 14–162 | Any bank, any amount |
| Bank app (pull from M-Pesa) | Instant | Usually free | Your own bank account |
| Paybill to bank account | Instant | KES 14–162 | When other methods unavailable |
The cheapest and fastest way to move money from M-Pesa to your bank account is always through your bank's own mobile app when that option is available. For other banks, the standard M-Pesa bank transfer is reliable and instant.