Step-by-step help guides for Spark by Absa

  • How to download and register

    1. Download Spark by Absa Botswana app from your App Store
    2. Launch the App and tap on ‘Register’
    3. Input the required details such as first name, last name, mobile number, choose ID type, enter ID or Passport number
    4. If you have received a referral code, enter it on the field provided
    5. Read the terms and conditions
    6. Input the one-time-pin (OTP) received, mobile number and tap ‘Continue’
    7. Enter the OTP you receive on your registered mobile number
    8. Create your Spark by Absa PIN
    9. Set up security questions and complete registration
       
    You can also register on *161*234*5# using the following steps
    1. Dial *161*234*5#
    2. Select 1 to register
    3. Input the required details such as first name, last name, mobile number, choose ID type, enter ID or Passport number
    4. Create a 4-digit PIN for your wallet
    5. Confirm the PIN created
    6. Set up security questions and complete registration

    If you are a new Absa customer, after completing the above steps please visit your nearest branch with your KYC documents to complete your registration. Alternatively, visit your nearest Absa Agent to register.

  • How to link your bank account to your wallet

    1. Launch the App and login
    2. From the menu on the top left of your screen select ‘Bank accounts & cards’
    3. You can manually enter the card details such as ‘Name on card, Card number, Expiration date, CVV number, and Card Nickname’ OR select the ‘Scan card details’ option
    4. If you select ‘Scan card details’ you need to allow camera access
    5. Place your card on a flat surface and capture the image of your card by lining the card up within the frame. This will automatically capture ‘Name, Card number and Expiration date’
    6. Any information that can’t be captured based on the image scan can be manually entered when prompted
    7. Once the card has been verified, you will receive an OTP on your mobile. Enter the OTP. The card will be added once the OTP is verified

  • How to link your card to your wallet

    1. Launch the app and login
    2. From the menu on the top left of your screen select ‘Bank accounts & cards’ (click on ‘Bank card’)
    3. Next you must enter card details (name on card, card number, expiration date, CVV number, and card nickname.) You can do this manually OR select the ‘Scan card details’ option
    4. If you select ‘Scan card details’ you need to allow camera access
    5. Place your debit card on a flat surface and capture the image of your card by lining the card up within the frame. This will automatically capture card details
    6. Any information that can’t be captured based on the image scan can be manually entered when prompted
    7. Once the card has been verified, you will receive an OTP on your cellphone. Enter the OTP 
    8. The card will be added once the OTP is verified

  • How to top up your wallet

    1. Login to your Spark by Absa app
    2. On the home screen, tap on your Spark by Absa wallet balance
    3. Tap on ‘Deposit’
    4. Tap on ‘Deposit from’ and select ‘Bank card’ or ‘Bank account’ (if you have an Absa linked bank account). 
    5. If depositing from your bank card, tap on ‘From card’ and select the card to use for the top-up transaction.
    6. Enter the amount you want to transfer into your Spark by Absa wallet and tap ‘Continue’
    7. Confirm the transaction details and tap ‘Make payment’
    8. Enter the wallet PIN and tap ‘Continue’
    9. Tap ‘Done’ on the successful screen to complete the transaction
    10. If depositing from your bank account, tap on ‘From account’
    11. Select the linked bank account to use for the top-up transaction
    12. Enter the amount you want to transfer into your Spark by Absa wallet and tap ‘Continue’
    13. Confirm the transaction details and tap ‘Make deposit’
    14. Enter the wallet PIN and tap ‘Continue’,
    15. Tap ‘Done’ on the successful screen to complete the transaction
    You can also top up your wallet from your Absa Bank account via USSD using the following steps
    1. Dial *161*234*5# from your phone
    2. Select Option 4 on the home page: ‘Deposit via Absa Bank Account’
    3. Select a bank account to transfer from
    4. Enter the amount you want to transfer
    5. Confirm entered details
    6. A success screen will be shown

  • How to request money from someone

    1. Launch the App and login or login via USSD *161*234*5#
    2. Select ‘Send Money’ on the home page
    3. Select ‘Make a new transfer’
    4. Enter the mobile number to which you want to transfer funds and the amount you want to transfer
    5. Confirm entered details
    6. Enter your wallet PIN to complete the transaction

  • How to deposit money from your wallet into your bank account

    1. Login to your Spark by Absa app
    2. On the home screen, tap on your Spark by Absa wallet balance
    3. Tap on ‘Withdraw’
    4. Select ‘Withdraw to bank account’
    5. If transferring to your bank account, tap on ‘Linked Bank Account’ and select the linked bank account to use for the top-up transaction
    6. If transferring to another Absa account select ‘Other Bank Account’ and enter details as prompted
    7. Enter the amount you want to transfer from your Spark by Absa wallet and tap ‘Continue’
    8. Confirm the transaction details and tap ‘Withdraw’
    9. Enter the wallet PIN and tap ‘Continue’
    10. Tap ‘Done’ on the successful screen to complete the transaction

  • How to buy airtime

    1. Launch the app and login
    2. Click on the ‘Buy airtime’ button on home screen
    3. Enter the mobile number you want to buy airtime for. Alternatively click ‘Buy for myself’
    4. Select the network provider, enter the airtime amount, and click ‘Continue’
    5. Confirm the details provided and click ‘Continue’
    6. A success message is displayed. Click ‘Done’ to conclude the transaction 

  • How to pay a bill

    1. Launch the App or login via USSD *161*234*5#
    2. Select buy Airtime
    3. Select network operator (Mascom/Orange/BTC Mobile)
    4. Input cell number to buy airtime for
    5. Enter amount
    6. Confirm transaction
    7. You receive a transaction confirmation via SMS 

  • What to do if you forgot your PIN

    1. Launch the App or login via USSD *161*234*5#
    2. Select buy Airtime
    3. Select network operator (Mascom/Orange/BTC Mobile)
    4. Input cell number to buy airtime for
    5. Enter amount
    6. Confirm transaction
    7. You receive a transaction confirmation via SMS 

  • How to manage biometric authentication

    1. Launch the app and login
    2. From the menu, select ‘settings’, then ‘enable biometrics’
    3. Based on the device’s biometric authentication support (fingerprint or facial recognition) you will be given an option to enable or disable it

  • How to configure auto-sweep

    1. Launch the app and login
    2. Click on the ‘Settings’ option on the main menu
    3. Click on ‘Auto sweep account’
    4. The Auto sweeping screen will be displayed
    5. Slide the ‘Enable auto sweeping’ toggle to enable auto sweeping (you can use the same toggle in future to disable auto sweeping)
    6. Set the ‘auto sweep limits’, ‘daily sweep limit’, specify the ‘Account details’ and click ‘Continue’
    7. Confirm the entered details and tap ‘Save details’
    8. A successful message is displayed. 
    9. Click ‘Done’ to complete the auto sweep configuration
Step-by-step help guides for merchants using Spark by Absa

  • How to make a purchase on Wallet POS

    1. Click on the ‘Mobile Sales’ option on your POS device
    2. From menu, click on ‘Mobile Sale’
    3. Enters 'Mobile Sale Amount' and click 'Continue'
    4. The customer must now enter his/her phone number and click 'Continue'
    5. The customer must enter his/her 4-digit wallet PIN on the POS device
    6. You can now click continue on your POS devide
    7. Once the transaction is successfully processed, a successful notification is displayed on the POS
    8. POS terminal will generate a receipt for both merchant & customer
    9. Both the merchant and customer will receive notifications via sms/email
    10. The above transaction will debit the customer’s wallet account and credit the merchant’s wallet accounts

  • How to do customer cash-in on the Wallet POS

    1. Merchant clicks on the ‘Mobile Sales’ option on his POS device
    2. From menu, Merchant clicks on ‘Mobile Deposit’
    3. Merchant enters Mobile Deposit Amount & click on Continue (the Merchant receives physical cash from the Customer)
    4. Customer enters the Customer’s Phone No. for Mobile Payment & click on Continue
    5. Customer enters his 4-digit wallet PIN on the POS device
    6. Merchant clicks on continue
    7. The transaction is successfully processed, and the merchant is displayed the successful notification on POS
    8. POS terminal shall generate a receipt for both merchant & customer
    9. Both Merchant and customer will receive Notifications via sms/email
    10. The above transaction will debit the Merchant’s Wallet Account and credit the Customer’s Wallet Account

  • How to do customer cash-out on the Wallet POS

    1. Merchant clicks on the ‘Mobile Sales’ option on his POS device
    2. From menu, Merchant clicks on ‘Mobile Withdrawal’
    3. Merchant enters Mobile Withdrawal’ Amount & click on Continue
    4. Customer enters the Customer’s Phone No. for Mobile Payment & click on Continue
    5. Customer enters their 4-digit wallet PIN on the POS device
    6. Merchant clicks on continue
    7. The transaction is successfully processed, and the merchant is displayed the successful notification on POS
    8. POS terminal shall generate a receipt for both merchant & customer
    9. The Merchant hands over the cash to the customer
    10. The above transaction will debit the Customer’s Wallet Account and credit the Merchant’s Wallet Account

  • How to receive QR payments

    As a merchant you can use the Receive QR payments option to get money from other Spark wallet users. This allows the Spark wallet user to scan a QR code, which is a series of black dots containing the encrypted information about payment amount, payment account etc.

    1. Click on the 'QR Pay' button on the home screen or the ‘Receive QR payments’ from the main menu
    2. Request the customer to scan the QR code on your mobile device or the QR code on display in your store (this will require the customer to manually input the amount to pay). 
    3. The customer will need to log into their Spark app and tap on ‘QR Pay’ on their home screen. The mobile device’s camera will be activated and the customer can scan the QR code, the customer enters the amount to pay and processes the transaction on their Spark app
    4. You can also set the amount a customer must pay by tapping on ‘Generate your own amount’ on your merchant app. 
    5. Enter the amount the customer must pay and tap ‘Generate code’. A QR code will be generated on the merchant’s Spark app for a customer to scan. 
    6. The customer must scan the QR code using their Spark app and confirm the transaction. 
    7. Once the scan is successful, you will see the beneficiary (customer) details and amount paid

  • How to refund a customer

    1. Launch the app and login
    2. Tap the ‘Refund’ button on the home screen
    3. Enter the ‘Transaction ID/reference’, select a ‘Reason for refund’ from the dropdown list, ‘Type any remarks’ and tap ‘Continue’
    4. Confirm the transaction details and tap ‘Confirm’. A success message is displayed. 
    5. Tap ‘Done’ to conclude the refund
Need more help?

Call us on:
+2673159575 (Contact centre)
0800 600 444 (BTC Toll Free)
150 (Mascom Toll Free)

Email us:
Botswana.CustomerService@absa.africa