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Verified 13 September 2026

Mpesa Xpress: I&M deposits by STK push

By Arnold Ochieng · I&M Bank Kenya hub · paybillke is an independent guide and is not affiliated with I&M Bank Kenya.

Mpesa Xpress is I&M's STK-push deposit. Instead of navigating the Lipa na M-PESA menu, you type the account number and amount on I&M's website, and a prompt appears on your phone for you to approve with your M-PESA PIN. The money lands instantly and you get an SMS.

The steps

  1. Go to imbankgroup.com, open Online Services at the top right, and choose Mpesa Xpress.
  2. Select Transfer to Account.
  3. Enter the account number and the amount as prompted.
  4. Enter your M-PESA mobile number in the format 2547xxxxxxxx, then pay.
  5. Check your phone for the prompt and enter your PIN to complete.

Keep your screen unlocked

I&M says this explicitly and it is the single most common reason an STK push fails: the handset screen must be active, not locked, to receive the M-PESA pop-up.

If the prompt never arrives, unlock the phone and try again rather than repeating the payment, and make sure the number you typed is the phone you are holding. The funds are debited from the M-PESA wallet and credited to the I&M account instantly, with an SMS notification.

The number format matters

I&M asks for 2547xxxxxxxx, not 07xxxxxxxx and not +2547xxxxxxxx. It is a small thing that stops the transaction dead. The same convention appears across most Kenyan payment systems, so it is worth committing to memory.

When to use this instead of the paybill

Three situations where Xpress genuinely beats paybill 542542:

  • When the Lipa na M-PESA menu is slow or failing, which happens during peak load.
  • When you are paying into somebody else's account and want the 14-digit number typed on a screen rather than read out and mistyped.
  • When you are on a laptop already and do not want to switch to the handset menu.

Otherwise the paybill is fine and more familiar. Both are free at the I&M end, per the tariff.

About this guide

Independent guide. paybillke is not I&M Bank and has no commercial relationship with it. Paybill, USSD and charge details were checked against I&M's own site and live tariff on 13 September 2026. Bank tariffs change, so confirm anything you are about to act on with I&M on +254 20 322 1000 or on the I&M tariff page.

Frequently asked

What is I&M Mpesa Xpress?

A way to move money from M-PESA into an I&M account using an STK push instead of the Lipa na M-PESA paybill menu.

Why did the M-PESA prompt not appear?

Most often the phone screen was locked. I&M requires an active screen to receive the pop-up.

What number format does Mpesa Xpress need?

2547xxxxxxxx, not 07xxxxxxxx.

Is Mpesa Xpress instant?

Yes. The account is updated instantly and an SMS notification is sent.

Does Mpesa Xpress cost more than the paybill?

No. I&M lists M-PESA to account transfer as Nil either way.