Absa Group and Visa have extended their strategic cooperation to speed up the development of new digital payments method and make sure that everyone in Africa has access to financial services.
The signing event in Johannesburg made the enlarged agreement official. It will help build safe, open, and digitally enabled digital payments and financial ecosystems throughout Absa’s Regional Operations (ARO), which is the bank’s presence outside of South Africa.
The renewed relationship will strengthen cooperation in the Cards, digital payments and Payments area by expanding digital infrastructure, helping small companies, and coming up with innovative ideas that put customers first. This is all based on a common goal of changing how people and businesses use financial services.
“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, Head of Southern and East Africa at Visa. “We share a strong commitment to growing digital access across the region. Absa’s leadership in innovation drives real impact, and we’re proud to support their momentum with Visa’s global expertise and technology as they deliver seamless experiences to their customers.”
The cooperation has already brought clients in Africa many new products that no one else has. Absa was the first bank in many African countries to provide Visa Direct, which lets people make card-to-card payments both within and outside of the country. With the launch of Visa Signature and Infinite metal cards, premium banking has reached a new level with distinct lifestyle perks. Also, Absa Pay issuer wallets made digital payments better, which was a first in Mauritius.
“Through our strategic partnership with Visa, we’re building a financial ecosystem that reflects the pace of today’s African economies. In every market we operate in, we connect deeply with local communities to ensure that we deliver financial solutions that respond to the evolving needs and realities of our customers,” said Saviour Chibiya, Chief Executive for Absa Regional Operations.
Absa also launched Visa Business Credit Cards in 2025. These cards are meant to help enterprises and entrepreneurs deal with real-world problems. These cards are more valuable since they come with personalised advantages, spending limits, and access to Visa Spend Clarity Plus, which is a first in Sub-Saharan Africa. This lets business clients issue virtual cards and monitor their expenses more effectively.
The renewed agreement places strong emphasis on enabling small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with targeted solutions to improve access to credit, expand payment acceptance and support responsible lending.