Airtel Money has reported a 25.1% increase in first half revenue to US$830 million for the six months ended September 30, 2026, in its maiden financial results since listing on the London Stock Exchange earlier this month. According to Reuters, the African digital financial services business recorded revenue growth of 34% in reported currency, while constant currency growth stood at 25.1%, reflecting its underlying performance after accounting for exchange rate movements. Profit after tax rose 21.6% to US$228 million from US$188 million in the corresponding period a year earlier, giving investors their first detailed assessment of the company’s financial performance as an independently listed entity.
Customer growth remained a central driver of the results, with Airtel Money’s customer base expanding 18.7% to 56.7 million across its 13 markets. Its app customer base grew 64.3% to 4.1 million, while the number of active agents increased 26.3% to 2.4 million and its merchant network expanded 85.5% to more than 587,000. Total processed transaction value reached US$128 billion, up 36.8% in constant currency, while revenue from payments and transfers rose 29.4% and financial services revenue increased 44.8% on the same basis. The company also reported underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation of US$398 million, up 26.4% in reported currency, although its underlying EBITDA margin narrowed to 48% from 50.8%, partly reflecting changes to intra-group agreements and additional levies in one market, according to its results statement.
The performance highlights the growing commercial significance of mobile money across Africa, where digital wallets, transfers and merchant payments are expanding access to financial services beyond traditional banking channels. Airtel Money declared an interim dividend of 6.4 US cents per share and reaffirmed its full-year outlook, targeting revenue growth in the mid-20% range in constant currency for the 2027 financial year. Chief Executive Ian Basil Ferrao said the company’s growth was supported by an expanding customer base, higher transaction values and a wider distribution and merchant network. With approximately 75 million Airtel telecommunications subscribers not yet using its mobile money services, the company sees considerable room to extend adoption, deepen digital transactions and strengthen its position in Africa’s increasingly competitive fintech market.
