Our Wallet by Spring in Africa: Is It Worth the Hype?
by Adekunle Ajayi
When I first heard about Spring in Africa and their product called "Our Wallet", I was skeptical. You see, in Nigeria, we’re used to hearing all sorts of promises from fintech platforms, only for the reality to be far from the hype. But as someone who runs a small business that often deals with both local and international clients, I decided to give it a shot. Let me tell you upfront— my experience was a rollercoaster ride, but there’s definitely something here worth talking about.
First Impressions
The first thing that caught my attention was the way Spring in Africa markets itself: “Go global with Spring. Receive money seamlessly.” It’s a bold claim, especially given the challenges many Nigerians face when it comes to cross-border payments. If you’ve ever tried to receive money from clients outside Nigeria, you know what I’m talking about. Between bank delays, exorbitant fees, and the occasional “network issues,” it’s enough to make you pull your hair out.
Signing up for Our Wallet was straightforward, though. The platform’s user interface (UI) is clean and simple, which I appreciated. No flashy distractions, just the basics laid out for you. But then again, I’ve learned not to judge a platform by its UI—functionality is what really matters, abi?
The Good Stuff
Now, let’s give credit where it’s due. One feature I immediately liked was the custom payment links. You can create a link, send it to your clients, and they can pay you easily without needing to log into some complicated platform. For someone like me who deals with foreign clients who don’t know much about Nigerian payment systems, this was a game-changer.
Another thing that stood out was the flexibility in payment options. With Our Wallet, you can receive funds via traditional bank transfers or more innovative methods. For instance, they support some digital wallets and other fintech integrations, which is useful if you’re dealing with tech-savvy clients.
Also, the platform promises low transaction fees, and for the most part, they kept their word. Compared to some of the big-name platforms, I found Spring’s charges to be reasonable. It’s not “cheap” per se, but it’s not exploitative either.
The Frustrating Parts
That said, it’s not all rosy. One major headache I had was with withdrawal times. Spring claims that withdrawals to your local Nigerian bank account are “seamless,” but in my experience, it wasn’t always so. Twice, I had to wait over 48 hours for funds to hit my account, which is not funny when you have bills to pay or suppliers breathing down your neck.
Customer support was another sore point. I had an issue with one transaction where a client’s payment didn’t reflect on my dashboard. I reached out to their support team, and let’s just say the response time left much to be desired. I had to follow up multiple times before the issue was resolved. In Nigeria, where people are already mistrustful of online transactions, a delay like that can make you panic.
Finally, while the platform is great for receiving payments, it doesn’t yet support currency conversions within the app. So if you’re dealing with clients who pay in dollars or euros, for example, you’ll still need to rely on your bank or bureau de change to convert the funds. And let’s not even talk about the drama with exchange rates in this country.
Personal Take
As a Nigerian entrepreneur, I think Our Wallet has potential. The idea of simplifying payments for businesses like mine is commendable, especially in a country where traditional banking systems are still catching up with the times. But there are some rough edges that need smoothing out.
Would I recommend it? Well, it depends. If you’re a freelancer or small business owner looking for a straightforward way to receive payments from clients, it’s worth trying. Just don’t expect it to solve all your payment problems overnight.
One thing I really hope Spring in Africa focuses on is customer experience. Nigerians are not patient people (rightfully so, given our daily struggles), and if you’re promising seamless transactions, you better deliver.
Using Our Wallet reminded me of a common saying in Nigeria: “Half bread is better than none.” It’s not perfect, but it’s a step in the right direction. With some improvements—faster withdrawals, better customer service, and maybe even currency conversion—it could become a serious contender in the fintech space.
For now, I’ll keep using it, cautiously. Who knows? Maybe in a few months, I’ll have a different story to tell.
What about you? Have you tried Spring in Africa’s Our Wallet? I’d like to hear your thoughts. Let’s discuss!