Ecobank Bénin and the telecommunications-linked mobile money operator Celtiis have officially launched a new financial service in Cotonou designed to bring traditional banking and mobile money closer together through seamless interoperability, marking a significant step in advancing digital finance and inclusion in Benin. The initiative, launched on 26 February 2026 at the Ecobank Bénin headquarters, introduces the Push & Pull service, which enables instantaneous transfers between an Ecobank bank account and a Celtiis Cash mobile wallet in both directions and has been welcomed as a structural response to longstanding barriers between formal banking and mobile financial services.
The Push & Pull service allows customers to move funds directly from their Ecobank Bénin account into their Celtiis Cash wallet — a feature known as Push — and also to move money back into their bank account from the mobile wallet, known as Pull. Users can also check their bank account balance through the system, with transactions available securely 24 hours a day. The launch ceremony gathered leadership and staff from both organisations, signalling the strategic importance of the partnership for the future of digital finance in the country.
According to Amadou Racine Diouf, Director-General of the Société Béninoise d’Infrastructures Numériques, the collaboration reflects an ambitious and shared vision to simplify financial services for customers, accelerate financial inclusion, and strengthen interoperability between mobile money and traditional banking. By eliminating the historical divide between the two services, the Push & Pull solution is expected to make financial services more accessible to a wider range of users, including employees, traders, entrepreneurs, and families who rely on both bank accounts and mobile wallets for everyday financial needs.
The partnership also holds significance in the broader regional context of interoperable financial systems in West Africa. Regulators and policymakers in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) have been pushing for improved connectivity among payment systems, notably through the Interoperable Instant Payment System Platform (PI-SPI) implemented under the authority of the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO). PI-SPI aims to enable instant, cross-platform transactions between banks, mobile money operators, and fintech players without additional fees, fostering a more fluid and inclusive financial ecosystem across member states.
Ecobank Bénin’s Director-General, Lazare Noulekou, framed the initiative within this regional transformation, noting that the landscape of financial services is evolving rapidly, with increasing demand for interconnected, always-accessible platforms that serve consumers’ diverse needs. He highlighted that flows between banks and mobile platforms in the UEMOA area exceeded US$200 billion in 2023, reflecting rising adoption of electronic and interoperable payment services across West Africa.
The accessibility of the Push & Pull service is one of its notable strengths. It does not require users to already hold a Celtiis number to open a Celtiis Cash wallet. Prospective customers can sign up by downloading the Celtiis Cash app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, using the USSD *889# code if they do not have internet access, or by visiting an Ecobank branch or an authorised agent. The broad accessibility of this service aims to extend financial inclusion even to users who may not traditionally engage with full banking infrastructure.
In addition to convenience, the partnership emphasises security and the reduction of cash handling, which can pose risks for consumers and businesses alike. Digital transactions through interoperable systems help reduce the need for physical cash, promote traceability, and encourage formalisation of the economy. These outcomes are seen as key to supporting broader economic goals, including transparency, financial stability, and inclusion.
The innovation comes at a time when many financial institutions across Africa are exploring similar interoperability efforts that link bank accounts with mobile wallets and other digital payment channels. For example, some Ecobank subsidiaries and partners are working on regional gateways connecting millions of mobile wallets to the bank’s pan-African infrastructure, allowing merchants, fintechs, and remittance operators to settle transactions more efficiently.
The Push & Pull service thus represents more than a technical upgrade: it embodies a shift toward a more inclusive and integrated financial landscape in Benin and the broader UEMOA region. By connecting the banked and unbanked populations under a single interoperable system, Ecobank Bénin and Celtiis are helping bridge longstanding gaps in access, improve customer experience, and position digital financial services at the heart of everyday economic activity for citizens and businesses alike.
