Hello Paisa
Hello Paisa is a South African Reserve Bank-licensed international remittance operator enabling migrant workers and diaspora communities in South Africa to send cash to 35+ countries via mobile app, USSD, WhatsApp, call centre, and 50+ retail stores, operating as a subsidiary of Hello Group.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersCenturion, South Africa
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Hello Paisa does
Hello Paisa (Proprietary) Limited is a South African-licensed international money transfer operator headquartered in Centurion, Gauteng. Founded in 2012 and operating as a subsidiary of Hello Group (which also owns mobile virtual network operator Hello Mobile), the company enables migrant workers and diaspora communities in South Africa to send cash remittances to recipients across 35+ countries spanning Africa, South Asia, and parts of Europe and Southeast Asia. The company is one of only a few holders of a South African Reserve Bank license for international money transfer, providing regulatory legitimacy in a market where informal hawala channels remain common.
The company's core product is a multi-channel remittance platform accessible via Android/iOS mobile apps, a free USSD code (*130*43556#), WhatsApp self-signup, a call centre (012-880-1800), and over 50 physical Hello Store/Info Point locations across South Africa. Customers initiate transactions through any channel and pay in cash at Hello Stores or at partner retail chains including Pick n Pay, Shoprite, Boxer, Checkers, Spar, Makro, Ackermans, and Pep, or via EFT through FNB, Nedbank, and Standard Bank. Payouts are delivered to recipients through cash pickup agents (including Western Union in Bangladesh), bank account transfers, and mobile wallets (including bKash in Bangladesh). The company has expanded into adjacent products including Hello Paisa Banking (a mobile banking offering with card services) and Malaicha.com (cross-border grocery delivery to Zimbabwe), and operates inbound remittance flows into South Africa via a partnership with WorldRemit.
Hello Paisa generates revenue primarily through per-transaction fees on outbound remittances, with fee structures varying by destination country and transaction tier (FICA LITE, FULL FICA, and Self-Declaration tiers with daily limits ranging from R3,000 to R15,000). The customer base is a long-tail of individual migrant workers rather than enterprise clients, with no concentration in any single counterparty. Geographic reach has expanded to include physical store presence in Zimbabwe and Malawi, and the service supports outbound flows from both South Africa and the United Kingdom.
Hello Paisa firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Hello Paisa
- Legal name
- Hello Paisa (Proprietary) Limited
- Website
- https://hellopaisa.co.za
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Hello Paisa is a South African Reserve Bank-licensed international remittance operator enabling migrant workers and diaspora communities in South Africa to send cash to 35+ countries via mobile app, USSD, WhatsApp, call centre, and 50+ retail stores, operating as a subsidiary of Hello Group.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Hello Paisa industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Remittance Services
- akta.pro primary industry
- Consumer Remittances (P2P) (FSAMAIAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Remittance & Cross-Border Payment Rails (SWIFT, Local Clearing, RTP Connectivity) (FSAGAKAH)
Keywords
Where Hello Paisa is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Centurion
- HQ country
- South Africa
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices14 records
Markets served
Hello Paisa business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- International Money Transfer Transaction Fees: Hello Paisa charges fees for each international money transfer transaction. Fees vary by destination country and are displayed when creating a transaction. The company also offers competitive exchange rates as part of its value proposition.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | FICA LITE: Basic tier with limited daily and monthly transaction limits |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | FULL FICA: Verified tier with higher daily and monthly transaction limits |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Self-Declaration: Highest tier for increased transaction limits |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | WhatsApp Signup (New Customers): Initial tier for WhatsApp-registered users |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels8 records
Hello Paisa product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Hello Paisa provides cheap international money transfer services from South Africa to more than 35 countries, enabling migrants and diaspora workers to send cash to family and recipients in their home countries. The service is accessible via multiple channels including a mobile app, free USSD code (*130*43556#), WhatsApp self-signup, call centre, and a network of physical Hello Stores. The company operates under a South African Reserve Bank license and also offers an inbound remittance service via WorldRemit for receiving money into South Africa.
Product overview
Hello Paisa is a single unified product portfolio offering international money transfer and mobile banking services primarily for migrants in South Africa. The core offering consists of the Hello Paisa International Money Transfer Service, accessible through multiple channels: a mobile app (Android/iOS), USSD code (*130*43556#), WhatsApp self-signup, call centre (012-880-1800), and physical Hello Stores/Info Centres across South Africa. The service supports remittances to 36 countries including Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and various African nations. Supporting infrastructure includes Pay-in Points at major retail chains (Pick n Pay, Shoprite, Spar, etc.) for cash payments, and Hello Paisa Inwards for receiving international transfers into South Africa via WorldRemit. The company is licensed by the South African Reserve Bank and is part of the Hello Group, which also operates Hello Mobile.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Hello Paisa Banking: Mobile banking application and banking card service allowing users to manage funds, pay bills, and send money internationally
- Malaicha.com
Products and services
- International Money Transfer Service A cheap, easy, and secure international money transfer service enabling users to send cash from South Africa to 35+ countries worldwide, with support for cash pickup, bank account transfers, mobile wallets, and various collection points.
- Hello Paisa Banking A digital banking service reimagined as a mobile-first offering, allowing users to hold banking in the palm of their hand with services that adapt to their needs, accessible via app.
- Hello Paisa Inwards (Receive Money to South Africa) A person-to-person international money transfer service allowing recipients in South Africa to receive funds from senders overseas, powered by WorldRemit integration, with funds credited to bank accounts.
Quantifiable outcome
- Instant or same-day cash collection for recipients across supported countries
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Hello Paisa
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Hello Paisa technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Hello Paisa partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- WorldRemitcoreWorldRemit is a global inbound remittance partner that allows people to send money to South Africa through Hello Paisa. The partnership enables person-to-person international money transfers into South Africa, with Hello Paisa acting as the local payout partner for WorldRemit senders.
- Western UnioncoreWestern Union is listed as a cash collection partner for Bangladesh, allowing Hello Paisa customers to pay funds into Western Union accounts in Bangladesh for recipient collection.
- bKashminorbKash, a Bangladesh-based mobile financial service, is listed as a payout partner allowing Hello Paisa recipients in Bangladesh to receive funds directly to their bKash mobile wallet.
- Pick n PaycorePick n Pay and Pick n Pay QualiSave stores across South Africa serve as official pay-in points where Hello Paisa customers can pay cash for their remittance transactions. Over 15 Pick n Pay locations are listed as collection points.
- ShopritecoreShoprite retail stores serve as pay-in points where Hello Paisa customers can pay for remittance transactions in cash.
- BoxercoreBoxer retail stores serve as pay-in points where Hello Paisa customers can pay for remittance transactions in cash.
- CheckerscoreCheckers retail stores serve as pay-in points where Hello Paisa customers can pay for remittance transactions in cash.
- SparcoreSpar retail stores serve as pay-in points where Hello Paisa customers can pay for remittance transactions in cash.
- MakrocoreMakro retail stores serve as pay-in points where Hello Paisa customers can pay for remittance transactions in cash.
- AckermanscoreAckermans retail stores serve as pay-in points where Hello Paisa customers can pay for remittance transactions in cash.
- PepcorePep retail stores serve as pay-in points where Hello Paisa customers can pay for remittance transactions in cash.
- FNB (First National Bank)coreFNB bank branches across South Africa serve as pay-in points for Hello Paisa remittance transactions.
- NedbankcoreNedbank branches across South Africa serve as pay-in points for Hello Paisa remittance transactions.
- Standard BankcoreStandard Bank branches across South Africa serve as pay-in points for Hello Paisa remittance transactions.
- Hello GroupcoreHello Paisa is a subsidiary of Hello Group, which also operates Hello Mobile – a mobile network service provider trusted by thousands of migrants across South Africa. The group leverages shared technology, customer trust, and operational infrastructure across its subsidiaries.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Hello Paisa competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- MoneyGram: Global cross-border P2P payments incumbent with extensive retail agent footprint in Africa and Asia. Competes with Hello Paisa for the same migrant senders from South Africa.
- Western Union: Global incumbent in cross-border money transfer with the largest agent network worldwide. Competes across every Hello Paisa corridor and acts as a payout partner for Hello Paisa Bangladesh-bound transfers.
- Capitec: Largest South African retail bank by customer count, serving a largely unbanked-to-mass-market segment that overlaps heavily with Hello Paisa's migrant customers. Its digital remittance and banking capabilities make it a structural competitor for low-income financial services wallet share.
Regional players
- Kazang (Lesaka Technologies): South African fintech offering cash-in/out, prepaid, and remittance services primarily through a spaza-shop agent network. Operates adjacent rather than head-to-head but shares the same SA migrant customer base and cash distribution infrastructure.
Emerging players
- Sendwave: Africa-focused mobile remittance app (now owned by WorldRemit) specializing in low-fee transfers to African countries including Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, and Senegal. Directly competes with Hello Paisa on the smartphone-native diaspora segment.
Direct peers
- Mukuru: One of the largest Africa-focused remittance operators, with deep corridor coverage from South Africa to Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique and beyond. Directly competes with Hello Paisa for the same migrant customer base using a similar multi-channel retail and digital model.
- Mama Money: South Africa-based remittance fintech specializing in low-cost transfers to neighboring African countries. Targets the same migrant segment as Hello Paisa with overlapping corridor coverage (Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi) and competitive digital-first positioning.
- Remitly: US-headquartered digital remittance fintech serving diaspora corridors worldwide, including significant South Africa outbound volume. Competes on mobile app UX and aggressive corridor pricing with a venture-backed marketing budget.
- WorldRemit: Global digital remittance platform with significant presence in South Africa both as a sender and as an inbound partner to Hello Paisa. Directly competes on digital user experience for diaspora sending money to 130+ countries.
Others
- Hello Mobile: Sibling brand under Hello Group offering mobile network services to migrant communities in South Africa. While not a direct competitor, it shares customers, brand, and infrastructure with Hello Paisa and represents the most strategically relevant ecosystem partner.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Hello Paisa social profiles
Digital presenceHello Paisa financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Hello Paisa leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Hello Paisa funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Hello Paisa M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Hello Paisa
What does Hello Paisa do?
Hello Paisa provides cheap international money transfer services from South Africa to more than 35 countries, enabling migrants and diaspora workers to send cash to family and recipients in their home countries. The service is accessible via multiple channels including a mobile app, free USSD code (*130*43556#), WhatsApp self-signup, call centre, and a network of physical Hello Stores. The company operates under a South African Reserve Bank license and also offers an inbound remittance service via WorldRemit for receiving money into South Africa.
Is Hello Paisa a public or private company?
Hello Paisa is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Hello Paisa founded?
Hello Paisa was founded in 2012.
Where is Hello Paisa based?
Hello Paisa is headquartered in Centurion, South Africa, in the Africa region.
How does Hello Paisa make money?
One revenue line is on record: international Money Transfer Transaction Fees.
Who are Hello Paisa's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are MoneyGram, Western Union and Capitec. Kazang (Lesaka Technologies) is listed as a regional player. Sendwave is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Mukuru, Mama Money, Remitly and WorldRemit. Hello Mobile is listed as an others.
Does Hello Paisa have an API?
No public API is recorded for Hello Paisa.
What industry is Hello Paisa in?
Hello Paisa's product category is Remittance Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAMAIAA, Consumer Remittances (P2P), with a secondary code of FSAGAKAH, Remittance & Cross-Border Payment Rails (SWIFT, Local Clearing, RTP Connectivity).