What is a local currency wallet?
A local currency wallet lets you hold money in Kenyan shillings (KES), Tanzanian shillings (TZS) or Ugandan shillings (UGX) in your NALA app, alongside your GBP or EUR wallet.
With a local currency wallet you can:
Convert from GBP/EUR to KES, TZS or UGX when the rate suits you, and back again
Add money to it directly (how depends on the wallet, see below)
Send locally to bank accounts and mobile money in Kenya, Tanzania or Uganda, without converting every time
Hold local currency for upcoming payments, for as long as you like
Who can get a local currency wallet?
Local currency wallets are available to eligible customers in the UK and EU with an active GBP or EUR wallet.
To be eligible, you need to:
Have an active NALA account with a GBP or EUR wallet
Have completed identity verification in the UK or EU
And either have sent at least £500 / €500 in total to Kenya, Tanzania or Uganda with NALA, or have an ID document from the same country you send from
I'm eligible but can't see the wallet in my app. Why?
We're rolling local currency wallets out to more UK and EU customers in batches, so not every eligible customer will see the option straight away. You'll see it in your app as soon as it's available on your account. There's nothing you need to do in the meantime.
Can customers in other countries get a local currency wallet?
Not at the moment. Local currency wallets are only available to customers who send from the UK or EU. They're not available to customers who send from the US, Tanzania, Kenya or other countries.
How do I open a local currency wallet?
Open the NALA app. If the wallet is available on your account, you'll see an option to open it.
Follow the steps in the app. You may be asked to complete a one-time ID check.
You'll get a notification and email once your wallet is ready.
What ID can I use?
Passport (any country)
Driving licence issued in the UK, EU or US
Residence permit issued in the UK, EU or US
If you've already given us one of these when you joined NALA, you won't need to do it again.
Can I have more than one local currency wallet?
Yes. If you're eligible, you can have more than one, for example a KES wallet and a TZS wallet.
How do I add money to my wallet?
Wallet | How to add money |
KES 🇰🇪 | Bank transfer to your KES wallet account details, or M-Pesa Paybill |
TZS 🇹🇿 | Request Money from Mixx by Yas (Tigo Pesa) or Airtel Money |
UGX 🇺🇬 | Request Money from MTN or Airtel |
All wallets | Convert from your GBP or EUR wallet |
Friends and family can also add money to your wallet.
How do I get money back to my UK or EU bank account?
Convert your KES, TZS or UGX to GBP or EUR in the app.
Withdraw from your GBP or EUR wallet to your bank account.
Are there fees or limits?
Any fee for converting or sending is shown in the app before you confirm. Limits depend on your verification level. To see yours, go to Profile → Account Limits.
More help
If you need help, contact NALA Support in the app 🩵