Author: Norman Frankel, Chief Growth Officer, Stanchion Payments Solutions. Originally published here. I had the pleasure of growing up in Kenya in the 1970s, so every time I return, it always feels special. Of course, the city of Nairobi has changed a lot, and when I send photos back to the office, some in the
By: Pierre Aurel, Chief Product Officer, Stanchion Payments Solution. Originally published here. The number of virtual cards issued worldwide is growing at an unprecedented pace. According to Juniper Research, global virtual card issuance is expected to grow at over 30% annually between 2023 and 2028, driven by relentless consumer demand for seamless, secure and convenient
KCB Bank, the largest financial institution in East Africa, has partnered with Compass Plus Technologies to strengthen its multi-currency offering by launching Kenya’s first platinum multi-currency prepaid card. This card will empower its customers with the flexibility and convenience to pay for goods and access funds across borders. The card allows users to load and
RealPay has strengthened its African footprint through expanded partnerships with leading financial institutions. These collaborations leverage innovative technology to promote financial inclusion and drive seamless payment processes across multiple countries. For more information about RealPay, click here. Founded in 2003, RealPay has pioneered time-sensitive payment solutions throughout the continent, helping businesses of all sizes—from small
Originally published here. Stanchion Payment Solutions, a leading global PayTech solutions provider, identified significant opportunities for development and growth in Ethiopia’s fast-evolving payments landscape during a recent follow-up market visit to the country led by Chief Growth Officer Norman Frankel. The visit highlighted Ethiopia’s ambitious digitalisation agenda amidst significant economic reforms, including currency devaluation and
Postbank and SASSA appeal to social grant beneficiaries to replace their SASSA Gold Cards with the new Postbank Black Cards by 28 February 2025. Beneficiaries who fail to get Postbank Black Cards before the deadline are advised that they will not be able to access their SASSA grant payments with the SASSA Gold Cards. After
Lesaka Technologies highlights that merchants in South Africa’s cash-driven township and rural economy remain underserved by mainstream financial services. This gap creates a significant opportunity for fintech companies to develop solutions addressing these merchants’ specific pain points, enabling them to serve their customers more efficiently and effectively. Lincoln Mali, CEO of Lesaka Technologies, emphasised this
As digital payments evolve, financial institutions face a major challenge: balancing innovation with maintaining existing IT assets. However, as Dr. John Wamai, Director at Equity Bank, warns in his recent LinkedIn post: “The pressure and urge to ‘sweat’ and maximize IT assets often lead to outdated and inefficient systems, temporary fixes, and poor integration—ultimately misaligning
Cairo Amman Bank will leverage Mastercard Move’s money movement capabilities to facilitate the movement of funds from Jordan to 37 countries. The bank will also incorporate Mastercard value-added services like fraud analytics and risk control, the companies said in a Thursday (Jan. 16) press release. “We aim to address existing challenges in cross-border payments and
Mastercard has opened its first office in Accra, Ghana, to support the country’s growing digital economy. This expansion strengthens its footprint across Africa, with existing offices in Cairo, Casablanca, Johannesburg, Lagos, Nairobi, and Mauritius. This move is part of Mastercard’s strategy to reinforce relationships with local stakeholders and foster inclusive growth in West Africa. “Opening
