Coop Bank Tanzania Unveils CooPesa Mobile App — A New Chapter in Digital Banking

Coop Bank Tanzania has formally launched CooPesa, an innovative mobile banking application designed to bring essential financial services directly to the fingertips of its members across the country. The unveiling — held in Dodoma and attended by Coop Bank executives and government officials — signals the bank’s commitment to digital transformation, financial inclusion, and enhanced customer experience in Tanzania’s fast-evolving financial landscape.

As CooPesa officially goes live, Coop Bank Tanzania positions itself as a growing player in the country’s cooperative banking sector, offering digital convenience and flexibility previously limited to traditional bank branches and physical channels.

What CooPesa Offers

CooPesa is designed to allow users to perform core banking functions conveniently from their mobile phones, without needing to visit a branch. Key features include:

• Balance inquiries — Quick and easy account balance checks at any time.
• Bill payments — Including utility payments such as Luku (electricity) and Startimes (TV subscriptions).
• Airtime top-ups — Buy airtime for major telecom networks directly through the app.
• Money transfers — Users can send funds via mobile money services like Tigo Pesa and M-Pesa, which are widely used in Tanzania.

Additionally, according to local media, the app aims to support government payments and secure data handling, with robust privacy protections built in — a crucial consideration in digital finance.

CooPesa is available through major app platforms (Google Play and Apple App Store) and also via USSD channels for users with feature phones or limited internet connectivity.

A Milestone for Coop Bank Tanzania

The launch of CooPesa marks the first major digital initiative from Coop Bank Tanzania since its establishment in 2024, when the cooperative banking entities Kilimanjaro Co-operative Bank (KCBL) and Tandahimba Co-operative Bank (TCBL) merged to form a larger, more competitive cooperative bank.

The newly formed bank received a transitional banking licence in July 2024 and began operations in October that same year. The merger — supported in part by CRDB Bank — was aimed at consolidating cooperative banking strength, expanding service offerings, and improving institutional resilience.

Introducing CooPesa less than two years after the merger reflects a strategic focus on digital financial services and aligns with broader efforts to modernize Tanzania’s banking ecosystem.

Leadership Highlights and Digital Vision

At the launch event in Dodoma, Coop Bank Managing Director and CEO Godfrey Ng’urah emphasized that CooPesa is more than just a mobile app — it’s part of a wider strategy to enhance accessibility, convenience, and financial inclusion across the bank’s member base.

“This platform will bring banking closer to our members and redefine convenience, accessibility, and efficiency in cooperative banking,” Ng’urah said, reflecting the bank’s ambition to create a member-centric digital banking proposition that complements Tanzania’s broader digital economy agenda.

The event was attended by Tanzania’s Minister for Agriculture, Daniel Chongolo, who commended the bank on its innovation and stressed the importance of modern digital technologies in advancing nationwide financial inclusion.

CooPesa’s Role in Financial Inclusion

Financial inclusion remains a central goal for many banks and fintech initiatives across Africa, including Tanzania. Coop Bank Tanzania’s CooPesa fits into this broader objective by:

• Extending financial services to communities traditionally underserved by brick-and-mortar branches.
• Leveraging mobile money interoperability (with Tigo Pesa and M-Pesa) to reduce transaction costs and reach customers in rural areas.
• Supporting the financial participation of cooperatives, small businesses, farmers, and everyday consumers.

Mobile money and digital banking have become pillars of financial access in East Africa, where a large share of users rely on mobile phones to store value and make payments. By integrating with existing mobile money rails, CooPesa bridges traditional banking with popular payment mechanisms, making it easier for Tanzanians at all economic levels to engage with formal financial systems.

Comparative Digital Banking Landscape

Tanzania’s banking sector has seen a growing trend toward digital platforms, as banks recognize that mobile technology drives convenience and broader inclusion. Similar efforts have emerged in the region — including mobile apps from other banks and fintechs — yet CooPesa’s integration with cooperative banking networks makes it unique in its segment.

Across Africa, the rise of digital financial services — from mobile money pioneers like M-Pesa to app-based banking by traditional banks — continues to reshape how users interact with financial products. CooPesa represents Coop Bank Tanzania’s entry into this transformative space, signaling an era where cooperative banking embraces digital innovation as a core growth driver.

Future Outlook

Looking ahead, CooPesa may become a foundation for future digital service innovations — such as savings products, loan applications, QR payments, and advanced analytics features — supporting Coop Bank’s mission to empower members financially and technologically.

As Tanzania continues to prioritize digital transformation and financial inclusion — through policy initiatives and public-private collaboration — apps like CooPesa could play a pivotal role in connecting more citizens, especially those in rural and semi-urban areas, to comprehensive banking services.

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