PCI Security Standards Council To Launch New eLearning Courses

The PCI Security Standards Council (PCI SSC), an open global forum for the development of payment card security standards, has announced new online training courses aimed at educating companies about how to keep their customers’ payment data secure, and how to become and remain compliant with PCI Security Standards. These courses, developed in response to

FNB – Cards Beat Cash by R3bn in December 2013

South Africans are abandoning cash for card payments, cutting banking costs by reducing the need to transport money, according to First National Bank (FNB). The bank reported in December card payments were ZAR3 billion (US$289 million) higher than cash withdrawals, though this had fallen again by January. “The gap between purchases made with banknotes compared

Nigerian Stanbic Bank’s Mobile Money Subscribers Near 1m

The number of mobile money subscribers of Nigerian commercial bank Stanbic IBTC will soon reach one million, says Gbenga Agboola, the bank’s mobile platform product manager. Agboola said the bank’s mobile money service is unique in that it does not require users to open an account, as the user’s phone number serves as the account

MasterCard Enters Seven New Markets in Africa

MasterCard has announced its expansion into seven new markets across Central and West Africa, increasing its acceptance footprint across the continent and securing a number of strategic agreements. The addition of Chad, Central African Republic, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Rwanda and The Gambia to the MasterCard network extends the company’s presence to 48 of the

Mt. Gox Files for Bankruptcy, Bitcoin Businesses Subpoenaed – Reports

The Mt. Gox Bitcoin exchange has filed for bankruptcy protection in Japan, according to an AFP report, days after it went offline. Earlier this week the website of Bitcoin exchange Mt. Gox had been taken down amid rumours of a hack or security breach resulting in the theft of Bitcoins, while six major Bitcoin exchanges

Tanzania Postal Bank Posts 606m/- Profit

The Tanzania Postal Bank (TPB) net income for the quarter ending December last year increased to 606m/-, up from 579m/- registered in similar period a year before. Cumulatively, the Bank profit increased to 4.23bn/- in the year ended December compared to 4.07bn/- recorded in the previous period. According to the TPB statement of financial position,

Exim Bank Launches Corporate Centre in Arusha

Exim Bank Tanzania has launched a corporate centre in Arusha to cater for its corporate clients needs within the region. Speaking during the launch of the centre, the Exim Bank Tanzania Board Chairman Yogesh Manek said the new corporate branch was another testimony of the commitment of the bank to offer service of highest level

Digital Music Market to grow $9 Billion Worldwide this Year

Mahindra Comviva, a provider of mobility solutions and Ovum Consulting, has released a research study on Digital Music Market. The study encapsulates future trends on the uptake of digital music in terms of adoption rates; devices used to consume music services and segregation of listeners and suggested target approach. The research study reveals that digital

Fidelity Bank Pioneers Agency Banking in Ghana

With the approval of the Bank of Ghana, Fidelity Bank has contracted third party retail networks called Fidelity Smart Agents to provide services on its behalf. Fidelity Smart Agents are your local neighborhood convenience shops, pharmacies, supermarkets and utility payment vendors. Commenting on this revolutionary initiative, the Managing Director of Fidelity Bank, Mr. Edward Effah,

iKaaz Launches NFC-powered Cloud-based Mobile Payments Platform in Nigeria

iKaaz, a Bangalore based mobile payments provider has entered the rapidly growing African market with the launch of its innovative tap and pay offering in Nigeria. Very soon Nigerian consumers will be making NFC payments at select merchant outlets thanks to iKaaz’s NFC powered mobile payments platform running on the cloud. “It is encouraging to