If you regularly buy discounted Safaricom or Airtel bundles using Till 509947 (a Buy Goods till, not a Paybill), saving the till number in your M‑PESA toolkit (Favourites) can save you time and prevent typing errors. This guide shows you how to add Till 509947 to your M‑PESA favourites on both the old SIM toolkit and the new M‑PESA app.

📑 In this guide

Why Save Till 509947?

Method 1 – Save via SIM Toolkit (USSD)

If you use the classic M‑PESA SIM toolkit (the *334# menu), follow these steps:

  1. Dial *334# and press send.
  2. Select My Account (usually option 7).
  3. Select Favourites (option 2).
  4. Choose Add New Favourite.
  5. Select Buy Goods and Services (or Lipa na M‑PESA).
  6. Enter the till number: 509947.
  7. Optionally, give it a nickname like “Bingwa Bundles”.
  8. Confirm – the till is saved.

Next time you want to buy bundles, go to M‑PESA → Favourites → select Bingwa Bundles → enter amount → PIN.

⚠️ Note: The exact menu options may vary slightly depending on your SIM card and phone. Look for “Favourites” or “My Favourites” under the My Account section.

Method 2 – Save via My M‑PESA App (Smartphone)

If you use the My M‑PESA app, saving a favourite till is even easier:

  1. Open the My M‑PESA app and log in.
  2. Tap Lipa na M‑PESA → Buy Goods and Services.
  3. Enter till number 509947.
  4. Before confirming the payment, tap the Save as favourite option (star icon).
  5. Give it a name (e.g., “Bingwa Till”).
  6. Complete the transaction or cancel – the till will still be saved.

You can now find it under Favourites on the app’s home screen.

How to Use the Saved Till to Buy Bundles

  1. Open M‑PESA → Favourites → Select “Bingwa Till”.
  2. Enter the exact amount for your chosen bundle (e.g., 55 for 1.25GB).
  3. Confirm with your PIN – the bundle is delivered instantly.

No need to remember or type the till number again.

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

Benefits of Saving Till 509947 vs. Official USSD

MethodSteps to BuyTimeOkoa Friendly
Saved Till 509947 Open M‑PESA → Favourites → Select → Amount → PIN ~10 sec ✅ Yes
Official USSD (*544#) Dial *544# → Bundles → Select network → Choose bundle → Confirm → PIN ~60 sec ❌ No

❓ Frequently Asked Questions – Saving Till 509947

❓ Can I save multiple tills?

Yes – you can save up to 5 favourites on most SIM toolkits, and many more in the M‑PESA app.

❓ Will saving the till affect my Okoa debt?

No – saving the till does not change how the transaction works. You still get the bundle even with Okoa debt.

❓ I saved the till but now I want to remove it – how?

Go to Favourites → Manage Favourites → Delete → Select the till → Confirm.

❓ Does the saved till work for both Safaricom and Airtel bundles?

Yes – the till number is the same. The bundle type depends on the amount you send. Check the price list before sending.

💡 Pro tip: After saving Till 509947, you can also save common bundle amounts in your phone’s notes or use M‑PESA’s “Send saved amount” feature (if available) for even faster purchases.