It is within this context that I&M Group, through its subsidiaries in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda, has introduced I&M Brisk—a solution designed to make cross-border banking faster, simpler, and more seamless. More than just a product, Brisk represents a strategic response to the realities of a region where businesses are expanding beyond borders and individuals are increasingly living and transacting across multiple markets.
To experience this firsthand, our Executive Editor, Muhereza Kyamutetera, is travelling across East Africa, testing the product in real-life scenarios while engaging with some of the architects behind its development.
While at the I&M Bank Group headquarters in Nairobi, he spoke with Evans Browns, Group Head of Products, to unpack what I&M Brisk means for customers and businesses—and how it is helping shape the future of intra-regional banking.
Evans, let’s start with you—who are you, what is your role at I&M Bank, and what does a typical day look like in your position?
Thank you, and welcome to Kenya—I hope your stay has been enjoyable.
My name is Evans Browns, and I serve as the Group Head of Products at I&M Bank. At the core of my role is ensuring that across all the markets we operate in, we design and deliver products that are relevant, responsive, and aligned to our customers’ evolving needs.
Today’s customers are looking for convenience, but beyond that, they need solutions that support their businesses, enable them to scale, and connect them to wider markets. My responsibility is to ensure that our product suite does exactly that—whether for individuals, SMEs, or corporates.
Ultimately, our goal is simple: to position I&M as a true growth partner. We want to support our customers not just in managing their finances, but in accelerating their ambitions and expanding their opportunities across the region.
Before we go deeper, help us understand—what is I&M Brisk, and why did you choose the name “Brisk”? What’s the thinking behind it?
We started by looking at a very real problem—the friction customers experience when moving money across borders. Despite how interconnected East Africa has become, cross-border transactions can still be slow, complex, and inconvenient.
Today, we live and do business across multiple markets. You could be in Kenya in the morning, Rwanda in the afternoon, and Uganda by evening. But the banking experience hasn’t always kept pace with that reality.
With I&M Brisk, our goal was to remove that friction and simplify how customers transact across our markets—Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda.
What this means in practical terms is that customers can move money seamlessly across these countries. If you’re travelling, you don’t need to worry about carrying cash. You can access your funds, make transfers, or even have someone deposit money into your account from any I&M branch across the region—and access it instantly.
At its core, I&M Brisk is about flexibility, speed, and peace of mind—enabling our customers to transact freely and confidently wherever they are in the region.
So, to simplify it—does this mean I can walk into an I&M branch in another country and transact just as I would at my home branch, with instant deposits and access to funds?
There are essentially two key scenarios.
First, for customers who already have an I&M account in any of our markets—say Rwanda—they can receive money seamlessly from another country, such as Uganda. In practical terms, someone in Uganda can walk into any I&M branch, deposit money into that Rwandan account, and the funds reflect instantly. The recipient can then access and use that money immediately.
Second, for customers within the I&M network, transfers can be done directly across our markets. Whether you’re sending money from Uganda to Rwanda, Kenya to Tanzania, or any combination within our footprint, the transaction is processed seamlessly and in real time.
So, whether it’s a cash deposit across borders or a direct account-to-account transfer, the experience is designed to be fast, simple, and highly flexible for our customers.
When you were designing this product, which customers did you have in mind? Who is I&M Brisk really built for, and where do you see it delivering the most value?
We approached this from real-life scenarios. Think of a trader sourcing raw materials across borders, a parent paying school fees in another country, or a traveller moving across the region—each of these situations involves the need to move money seamlessly.
What became clear is that this is not limited to one segment. It cuts across businesses, individuals, students, traders, and corporates alike.
So rather than design a product for a specific group, we built I&M Brisk as a broadly inclusive solution—one that supports anyone with cross-border financial needs. Whether it’s for business, education, or lifestyle, the focus is on enabling customers to move money easily, flexibly, and without friction across our markets.
Cost is often a major barrier in cross-border transactions—how have you approached pricing with I&M Brisk?
Given that we operate across multiple markets with different currencies, pricing is naturally influenced by exchange rates and conversion dynamics.
That said, we’ve been very deliberate in ensuring that I&M Brisk remains highly competitive. In many cases, the cost is lower than traditional cross-border transaction channels.
Rather than focusing on fixed figures—which can vary across currencies and markets—our priority has been to keep the pricing as affordable and transparent as possible for our customers. Ultimately, the goal is to ensure that customers can move money across borders efficiently without being burdened by excessive costs.
There’s a saying that when you travel, you should stop thinking in your home currency and just enjoy the experience—but in reality, that can be quite stressful for many people. Since launching I&M Brisk, what kind of feedback have you received from customers? How are they experiencing the product so far?
I can relate to that experience personally. I remember travelling to Tanzania for the first time and constantly trying to convert prices before making any purchase—it quickly became exhausting and distracted from the overall experience.
That’s exactly the problem I&M Brisk is designed to solve. It removes the mental burden of constant currency conversion and the need to source local cash.
With Brisk, your money remains accessible across our markets, and once you arrive in a different country, you can withdraw in the local currency and transact seamlessly.
In essence, it allows customers to move and spend across the region with ease—without the stress that typically comes with managing multiple currencies.
Staying with customer experience—what are clients actually telling you? How is the market responding to I&M Brisk so far?
From our engagements with customers—traders, travellers, and businesses operating across the region—the feedback has been very consistent.
Two things stand out strongly: convenience and peace of mind. Customers no longer have to worry about carrying cash or figuring out how to move money across borders. That burden has been significantly reduced.
The second is efficiency. Whether it’s a deposit or a transfer, transactions reflect instantly across our markets. That immediacy is transforming how customers operate, especially in time-sensitive situations.
One example that stood out to us is a trader sourcing goods across borders. While in the market selecting items, they were able to call a partner in another country, have money deposited into their account instantly, and complete the purchase on the spot. That kind of real-time capability is a game changer.
So overall, the market response has been very positive. Customers are experiencing a faster, simpler, and more reliable way to transact across East Africa—whether for business or everyday needs.
That’s a powerful example—and as they say, the real test is always in the numbers. How has customer uptake been so far, and what are the trends telling you?
One thing we’ve observed is that when a solution is truly relevant, it naturally drives excitement and adoption among customers. We’ve seen month-on-month growth of over 100% in transaction volumes, which is a very strong signal that the product is addressing a real market need.
Our focus now is on building awareness—ensuring that traders, businesses, and individuals across the region fully understand how to leverage this solution to support their activities. Overall, the uptake has been very encouraging, and we’re grateful for the positive response from our customers as we continue to scale.
For someone listening to this and getting excited about I&M Brisk, who would you say it works best for in real life? Are there particular customer segments where you’re seeing the strongest value or adoption?
Our ambition is to be the leading financial partner for growth across Eastern Africa—and that growth spans both business and personal journeys.
What we’ve seen is that the need for seamless cross-border transactions is not limited to a single segment. It applies to corporates expanding into new markets, SMEs trading across borders, professionals building regional careers, and even individuals travelling, studying, or supporting family across countries.
With I&M Brisk, we’ve deliberately built a solution that cuts across all these segments. Whether you are a corporate client, an SME, a retail customer, or a student, the underlying need is the same—moving money easily and efficiently across borders.
So rather than focusing on one group, we’ve aligned the product to support a broad range of customer needs, ensuring that anyone operating across the region can transact seamlessly and grow with confidence.
You’ve spoken about I&M’s ambition to be a leading partner for growth across Eastern Africa—and from my own experience as both a client and a partner, that focus on growth is quite evident. How does I&M Brisk fit into that broader vision for the region, and what is it about East Africa that makes it such a strategic focus for the bank?
Just to clarify, our ambition is focused on Eastern Africa, but we also have a growing presence beyond the region, including markets like Mauritius, with further expansion opportunities ahead.
At the heart of this strategy is the reality that today’s businesses are no longer confined to one market. A business owner in Uganda, for example, is increasingly looking to expand across the region—to source, sell, and scale beyond borders.
I&M Brisk is designed to support exactly that ambition. It enables customers across our markets to transact seamlessly with each other. A customer in Rwanda can pay a supplier in Uganda instantly—either through a branch deposit or a transfer—and the funds are available immediately, allowing the transaction to be completed and goods to move without delay.
That kind of efficiency is critical in unlocking trade. It allows businesses to expand their reach, serve new markets, and operate with greater confidence across borders.
Crisis Beneath the Pumps: Kenya’s Unfolding Fuel Scandal and the Fall of Top Energy Chiefs - Why it Matters to UgandaPayments are a fundamental part of everyday business activity. By making them faster, simpler, and more reliable, we are directly enabling intra-regional trade and economic growth.
Beyond payments, we support our customers with a full suite of banking solutions—whether it’s working capital, trade finance, or other financial services—ensuring that as their transactions grow, we are able to support them at every stage of their journey.
Ultimately, this is how we bring our ambition to life: by positioning I&M as a true financial partner for growth across Eastern Africa and beyond.
This feels like a very timely solution, especially given the level of intra-regional trade and movement across East Africa. There’s clearly a growing need for seamless cross-border transactions. But whenever money moves across borders, one key concern always comes up—trust and security. How safe is this process, and how does I&M ensure customers can transact with confidence?At the core of I&M Brisk is one key priority—peace of mind for our customers.
When we looked at cross-border transactions, we identified three main areas of concern.
The first is the risk of carrying cash, which is both inconvenient and unsafe. With Brisk, that risk is eliminated—customers don’t need to move with physical cash across borders. They can deposit or transfer funds and access them seamlessly in another country.
The second is system security and reliability. Customers need confidence that when money moves from one country to another, it is safe, traceable, and immediately available. We have invested heavily in robust systems that ensure transactions are secure—and importantly, that funds reflect instantly, giving customers full visibility and control.
The third is currency conversion. Since customers operate across different currencies, we’ve focused on offering competitive foreign exchange rates, so they are not disadvantaged when transacting across markets.
So overall, Brisk is designed to address security end-to-end—removing the risks associated with cash, ensuring secure and instant transactions, and delivering fair and transparent pricing. That’s what gives our customers the confidence to transact across the region.
That’s very important—especially for traders and customers who are working within tight budgets and need predictability when it comes to costs. Now, beyond cash and transfers, how does I&M Brisk work with cards? For someone travelling across the region, can they rely on their card seamlessly for everyday transactions, anytime and anywhere?
One of our key focus areas now is deepening digitisation and expanding access across multiple channels.
We are continuously investing to ensure that I&M Brisk is not limited to one mode of access, but is available wherever our customers are—whether through mobile banking, cards, or other digital platforms.
The goal is simple: to make the experience as seamless and accessible as possible. So whether a customer prefers to transact via their mobile app or use their card while travelling, we are working to ensure that Brisk supports that experience consistently across all channels.
It’s about extending convenience beyond borders—and across every touchpoint our customers rely on.
For someone watching or reading this and interested in using I&M Brisk, how do they get started? Whether they’re an existing I&M customer or new to the bank, what does the onboarding process look like?
The onboarding process is intentionally simple—I would describe it as as easy as ABC.
At the core, the key requirement is that the receiving customer has an I&M account. Once that is in place, they are ready to start transacting across the region.
On the sending side, a customer doesn’t necessarily need to have an I&M account. They can walk into any I&M branch in any of our markets and make a cash deposit into the recipient’s account, and the funds will reflect instantly.
Of course, we encourage customers to open accounts so they can fully benefit from the broader ecosystem. But even at a basic level, getting started is straightforward—open an account, share your details with your business partners or anyone sending you money across the region, and you’re ready to go.
It’s designed to be simple, accessible, and immediately usable.
Beyond I&M Brisk, you’ve spoken about a broader ambition to be a leading partner for growth across Eastern Africa. If you had to make a simple elevator pitch—why should someone bank with I&M? What are they missing if they’re not already a customer?
Of course, I&M Brisk is a strong starting point—but beyond that, our focus is on remaining relevant to our customers in a rapidly evolving, digital world.
We’ve made significant investments in technology to ensure that our customers can transact seamlessly—whether through robust online banking platforms, a wide range of card solutions, or integrated digital channels.
At the same time, we offer a comprehensive suite of financial solutions to support growth at every level. Whether it’s working capital for businesses, asset financing, home loans, or trade solutions, we are structured to meet both personal and business needs.
What truly differentiates us, however, is our segment-driven approach. We don’t offer one-size-fits-all solutions. Instead, we take time to understand each customer—whether SME, corporate, or premium—and tailor products that align with their specific goals and ambitions.
So when you bank with I&M, you’re not just accessing financial services—you’re partnering with a bank that is intentionally designed to support your growth journey.
Beyond I&M Brisk, and within your broader ambition to be a leading growth partner across Eastern Africa, why should someone choose to bank with I&M? What truly sets you apart?
There are a few key reasons why customers choose to bank with I&M.
First is our comprehensive range of products and services. We are structured to serve all segments—whether you’re a corporate, SME, retail customer, youth, or premium client—ensuring that your financial needs are fully covered.
Second is our strong digital capability. We’ve invested heavily in technology to enable customers to transact anytime, anywhere, making banking more convenient and efficient, and giving them the flexibility to manage their finances on the go.
Third is our identity as a relationship-driven bank. We go beyond offering products—we assign relationship managers who take time to understand each customer’s needs, provide tailored solutions, and grow alongside them.
And finally, our regional footprint. As we continue to expand across Eastern Africa, we make it easier for our customers to bank and do business seamlessly across borders.
So when you bring it all together, I&M offers not just banking services, but a connected, customer-focused ecosystem designed to support growth at every level.
On a more personal note, you’ve spent time in Uganda—what has stood out for you? Were there any experiences or impressions that surprised you, and what would you encourage others to come and discover for themselves?
The first thing that stands out about Uganda is the people—they are incredibly warm, welcoming, and always willing to help. There’s a genuine sense of hospitality that you feel almost immediately.
I also have to mention the food—it’s exceptional. Ugandans really know how to cook, and they serve it generously, which makes the experience even more memorable.
Beyond that, Uganda is truly the entertainment hub of East Africa. There’s a vibrant social scene, a wide range of places to visit, and a strong sense of energy and culture.
And of course, there’s a growing level of interaction across the region—from tourism to business—which makes Uganda not just a great place to visit, but also an important part of the East African ecosystem.
Overall, it’s a beautiful country with a lot to offer.
For our readers who are planning to visit Kenya—or even those already here but haven’t fully explored it—what are some of the must-have experiences you would recommend? What shouldn’t they leave Kenya without experiencing?
Kenya is a beautiful country with so much to offer, but one experience you simply can’t miss is our nyama choma—it’s a true local delicacy that we take great pride in. In fact, even when Kenyans travel to Uganda, one of the first things they ask is, “Where can I find nyama choma?”
Beyond the food, Kenya offers a wide range of unforgettable experiences. If you’re on a short visit, you can start right here in Nairobi with the Nairobi National Park—a unique park within the city where you can see the Big Five.
For a more immersive experience, you can visit the Maasai Mara, explore Mount Kenya, or head to Nanyuki. And of course, the Kenyan coast offers incredible beaches and a completely different experience altogether.
What makes Kenya special is that you can’t really exhaust it—there’s always something new to discover.
So I would warmly invite our friends from Uganda and across the region to come and experience it for themselves. And of course, when you do, don’t forget to pass by I&M—we’ll be here to support your journey.
I find the Nairobi National Park—right next to the city—an incredible experience; it’s not something you see every day. And of course, the Maasai Mara is just on another level altogether. As we wrap up, for someone who has been following this conversation and is now considering I&M Bank, how would you describe the bank in a few words—and what would you say to them?
I would describe I&M as a growth engine. Whatever your ambition—whether you’re growing a business, advancing your career, or expanding into new markets—we are here to support that journey.
At I&M, you benefit from a strong digital experience, a relationship-driven approach, and a wide range of tailored financial solutions designed around your specific needs. From day-to-day banking to tools that help you track and manage your finances, we enable you to focus on what matters most—running and growing your business or career.
Beyond that, we support you at every stage of growth. Whether you need working capital, asset financing, or funding for expansion, we position ourselves as a partner that can step in and help you scale.
So it’s not just about banking—it’s about having a partner that understands your goals, supports your day-to-day operations, and empowers your long-term growth.
