Absa and Visa Deepen Partnership to Drive Financial Innovation and Inclusion Across Africa
Johannesburg, South Africa – 23 July 2025 — In a renewed strategic move aimed at transforming Africa’s financial landscape, Absa Group and Visa have extended their longstanding partnership to foster inclusive, secure, and digitally driven payment ecosystems across the continent. The agreement was formalised during a signing ceremony held in Johannesburg, reaffirming the two companies’ commitment to deepening innovation and accelerating financial inclusion in Absa’s Regional Operations (ARO) its business footprint outside South Africa.
Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions, and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, reliable, and secure payment network, enabling individuals, businesses, and economies to thrive. For more information, visit www.visa.co.za.
The renewed partnership underscores a shared ambition to revolutionise how individuals, small businesses, and corporates interact with financial services. Through joint efforts, the focus will now shift to expanding digital infrastructure, empowering SMEs, and rolling out customer-focused innovations across key markets.
“This regional expansion marks an exciting new chapter in our partnership with Absa one that continues to challenge conventions and redefine the possibilities within financial services,” said Michael Berner, Visa’s Head of Southern and East Africa. “Absa’s leadership in innovation drives real impact, and we’re proud to support their momentum with Visa’s global expertise.”
The collaboration has already introduced several market-first initiatives across Africa. These include the launch of Visa Direct for domestic and international card-to-card transfers, the rollout of premium Signature and Infinite metal cards, and the deployment of Absa Pay issuer wallets, a digital payment first in Mauritius.
Saviour Chibiya, Chief Executive of Absa Regional Operations, emphasised the importance of local impact: “We’re building a financial ecosystem that matches the pace and diversity of Africa’s economies. Our solutions are designed with the realities of our communities in mind.”
In a significant 2025 rollout, Absa also launched Visa Business Credit Cards across several African markets. The cards offer enhanced spend controls, tailored business benefits, and access to Visa Spend Clarity Plus a digital tool for virtual card issuance and expense management, being introduced for the first time in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The partnership places a strong focus on small and medium-sized enterprises, aiming to boost access to credit, expand payment options, and encourage responsible lending practices.
Omar Baig, Managing Executive at Absa Retail & Business Banking, noted, “Visa’s global technology and local insights enable us to scale our services meaningfully. As we grow across Africa, this partnership allows us to meet evolving customer needs with greater speed and precision.”
As they strengthen collaboration, Absa and Visa remain committed to shaping a digitally inclusive financial future for Africa driving change one innovation, one business, and one customer at a time
