IME Pay and Khalti merge

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, July 18: Nepal’s digital wallets, IME Pay and Khalti, have officially begun joint operations under the new name ‘Khalti by IME’ from Thursday (July 17).

The merger was announced at a programme in Kathmandu and was attended by Deputy Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), Bam Bahadur Mishra. 

It is the country’s first-ever digital wallet consolidation.

The two platforms, each with distinct user bases, have now unified under IME Khalti Ltd. while the app will operate as ‘Khalti by IME’. 

IME Pay, known for remittance services, inDrive payments, and interest-bearing wallets, joins forces with Khalti, a favourite among youth for movie bookings, event ticketing, and digital innovations. "The merger aims to deliver a more seamless, secure, and feature-rich digital payment experience for Nepali users," said the company in a statement. 

According to it, existing IME Pay users can migrate effortlessly to the new platform, with all balances, rewards, and account details automatically transferred. Khalti users, meanwhile, will enjoy upgraded features by simply updating their app.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Governor Mishra stressed the importance of digital payments in boosting transparency and financial inclusion. He expressed optimism that the merger would create a more accessible and user-friendly platform for all Nepalis.

Krishna Prasad Sharma, Chairman of IME Pay, said that this merger with Khalti strengthens their commitment to financial inclusion. 

Likewise, Manoj Kumar Agrawal, Chairman of Khalti, added, “This union bridges innovation and legacy, setting a new benchmark for Nepal’s fintech sector.”

Binaya Khadka, CEO of IME Khalti Ltd., outlined the company’s vision to expand digital accessibility, enhance financial literacy, and introduce innovative services to drive greater inclusion.

With 7 million Khalti users and 5.7 million IME Pay users, the merged entity now serves 12.7 million customers, making it Nepal’s largest digital wallet. Both brands boast accolades, including the NRB Digital Transaction Award (Khalti, 2024) and the Digital Services ICT Award (IME Pay, 2024).