I&M Bank Rwanda has partnered with voice artificial intelligence company Pindo to introduce Rwanda’s first Kinyarwanda Voice AI Banking Agent, a technology that allows customers to access banking services through natural voice conversations in local languages.
The new service enables customers to interact with the bank using ordinary phone calls in both Kinyarwanda and English, providing an alternative to traditional digital banking platforms that often require smartphone applications, internet access, or text-based navigation.
The Voice AI Agent was first introduced through I&M Bank’s “Tsinda na Banki Muhorana” campaign, where customers could register for the promotion through a simple phone call.
The initiative demonstrated how voice technology can make digital financial services more accessible to a wider population.
Pindo’s artificial intelligence platform is built specifically for African languages and local communication contexts. Its Kinyarwanda speech recognition model has been developed to understand natural conversations, allowing users to communicate with the banking system in a more familiar and convenient way.
The partnership between I&M Bank and Pindo is expected to expand beyond promotional campaigns, with future applications including customer support, account enquiries, self-service banking and other financial services delivered through voice technology.
The introduction of the Kinyarwanda Voice AI Banking Agent comes as Rwanda continues to promote digital transformation and financial inclusion, with banks and technology companies exploring solutions that reduce barriers to accessing financial services.
By combining artificial intelligence with local language capabilities, I&M Bank and Pindo aim to create a more inclusive banking experience that reflects the way many Rwandans communicate in their daily lives.
