Safaricom has integrated its Fuliza overdraft service into the M-Pesa GlobalPay Virtual Visa Card, allowing customers to complete online payments even when their M-Pesa wallet balance is insufficient.
The new feature is designed to help users maintain payments for digital services and subscriptions without interruptions caused by low account balances.
Safaricom announced the development through its official social media platforms, directing customers to activate Fuliza on GlobalPay through the M-Pesa app.
How Fuliza works on GlobalPay
M-Pesa GlobalPay is a virtual Visa card linked to a customer’s M-Pesa account and can be used to make online payments on platforms that accept Visa.
With the integration of Fuliza, customers can use their available Fuliza limit to complete eligible transactions when the funds in their M-Pesa wallet are not enough.
“With Fuliza on the M-PESA GlobalPay virtual visa card, your online subscription payments can keep going even when your wallet balance runs low,” Safaricom said.
Customers can access the feature by opening the M-Pesa app and activating Fuliza on GlobalPay.
What the new feature means for users
The integration is particularly useful for customers who make recurring online payments, including streaming subscriptions and other digital services.
Previously, a failed payment caused by insufficient funds could interrupt access to a service. The addition of Fuliza gives eligible users another option for completing such payments when their M-Pesa balance falls short.
Fuliza is an overdraft facility operated by Safaricom in partnership with NCBA Bank and KCB Group. The service was launched in 2019 and allows eligible M-Pesa customers to complete transactions even when they do not have sufficient funds in their wallets.
Repayment is automatically deducted when money is subsequently deposited into the customer’s M-Pesa account.
The expansion to GlobalPay extends Fuliza’s use beyond conventional M-Pesa transactions and into online payments made through the virtual Visa card.
How customers can access Fuliza on GlobalPay
Safaricom has advised customers who want to use the feature to open the M-Pesa app and enable Fuliza on their GlobalPay card.
Availability remains subject to a customer’s Fuliza eligibility and credit limit.
Safaricom explains Fuliza limits
The development comes as Safaricom continues to respond to questions from customers about Fuliza eligibility and credit limits.
In a recent interaction, the company explained that Fuliza limits are determined through an automated credit-scoring system that considers multiple factors rather than M-Pesa transaction activity alone.
This means customers with regular M-Pesa transactions may still have a low or zero Fuliza limit depending on the outcome of the credit assessment.
Safaricom has also provided customers with guidance on steps they can take to improve or refresh their eligibility for the overdraft service.
