Airtel Money half-year sales rise 25% as customer base hits 56.7 million

The African payments firm posted $830 million revenue and $360 million pre‑tax profit, driven by a surge in users and transaction values.

By Felo News Desk · Published Mon, 26 Oct 2026 09:24:14 GMT

Airtel Money, the African payments firm, announced that its half‑year sales rose 25% to $830 million, with pre‑tax profit up 18% to $360 million, after its London IPO valued the company at roughly £5.3 billion.

What happened

The company released its first financial results since the IPO, covering the six months to the end of September. Revenue reached $830 million (£621 million), 25% higher than the prior year on a constant‑currency basis. Pre‑tax profit was $360 million (£270 million), an 18% increase. The customer base grew to 56.7 million, about nine million more than a year earlier, and the average transaction value per customer rose nearly 15% to $397 (£297) a month.

What the reports add

Both Independent and Standard noted that growth was spread across Airtel Money’s portfolio of wallet services, payments, transfers and broader financial services.
The firms highlighted a network of roughly 2.4 million agents and about 43,000 branches and kiosks across Africa, a quarter more than the previous year.
They reported a rise in app usage, indicating increasing digital adoption among customers.
The IPO was described as the biggest London Stock Exchange float for an African‑focused company since 2021.
Airtel’s shares jumped about 5% in early trading following the listing.

What was said

“Our oversubscribed London listing was a landmark achievement for Airtel Money and a vote of confidence in our business model and strategy,” said chief executive Ian Ferrao, as quoted by both Independent and Standard.

“Our fastest growth is coming from payments and transfers and financial services, which are higher‑quality revenue streams,” Ferrao added.

“And with around 75 million Airtel telco subscribers not yet using Airtel Money, our runway for growth remains significant,” he continued.

How it came about

The results follow the company’s London listing, the biggest African‑focused float on the London Stock Exchange in five years. The IPO gave Airtel Money a market valuation of about £5.3 billion, providing capital to expand its agent network and digital offerings.

Key facts

Revenue for the half‑year was $830 million (£621 million) (independent.co.uk)
Pre‑tax profit was $360 million (£270 million) (independent.co.uk)
Customer base reached 56.7 million at end‑September (independent.co.uk)
Average transaction value per customer rose to $397 (£297) a month (independent.co.uk)
Agent network grew to about 2.4 million, a 25% increase (independent.co.uk)