Visa, a global leader in digital payments, today announced the launch of Visa Pay, an innovative mobile solution designed to bring secure, interoperable digital payments and account-to-account money movement to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The solution provides a simple and reliable way for both banked and unbanked consumers to pay, get paid, and transfer money across participating banks and mobile networks.
A Mobile-First Solution for Financial Inclusion
Visa Pay has been developed with a strong focus on accessibility, affordability, and convenience—three factors essential to meeting the unique needs of individuals, small businesses, and larger enterprises in the DRC. As a mobile-first solution, Visa Pay ensures that anyone with a smartphone can participate in the digital economy, regardless of whether they have a traditional bank account.
The solution offers easy enrolment and is supported by Visa’s advanced risk and fraud prevention capabilities, providing peace of mind for both consumers and businesses. Transactions take place in near real-time, with account-to-account money movement available in two currencies—the Congolese Franc (CDF) and the U.S. Dollar (USD). For consumers who prefer or require cash, Visa Pay also enables seamless cash-in and cash-out services at participating banks’ branches, bridging the gap between digital and physical money.
Beyond payments and transfers, Visa Pay empowers users to participate in online commerce. With the use of virtual cards, individuals can make secure online purchases and access digital services, opening doors to broader opportunities in education, business, and cross-border trade.
Strong Partnerships Driving Adoption
To ensure wide accessibility and scale, Visa Pay is launching in partnership with eight leading financial institutions in the DRC: Access Banque, BGFI, Equity Bank, FBN, Sofibanque, Solidaire Banque, TMB, and UBA. These partnerships create a broad ecosystem that enables interoperability across banks and mobile networks, giving consumers greater freedom in how they send and receive money.
Visa Pay is available as a standalone mobile app, downloadable from both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, ensuring ease of access for individual users. At the same time, it has been designed with flexibility in mind for banks and financial institutions. Visa Pay features can be embedded directly into existing banking apps, allowing financial institutions to integrate the solution without requiring customers to download a separate application. This approach makes adoption seamless and enhances customer choice.
Driving Digital Transformation in the DRC
Sophie Kafuti, General Manager for Visa DRC, highlighted the importance of this launch for the country:
“We are excited to launch Visa Pay, an interoperable solution to scale digital payments in the country. The launch is part of our commitment to driving innovative solutions as a catalyst for greater financial inclusion, helping to provide broader access to the digital economy. Through Visa Pay, we aim to stimulate economic growth and to help establish the DRC as a regional leader in financial technology.”
Her comments reflect Visa’s broader vision of expanding the reach of digital payments to markets where access to the financial system has historically been limited. With only a fraction of the DRC population currently using formal banking services, Visa Pay represents a significant step toward bridging the financial inclusion gap.
Unlocking Opportunities for Growth
The launch of Visa Pay in the Democratic Republic of Congo exemplifies Visa’s mission to use its global expertise and local partnerships to promote financial inclusion and support economic development. By leveraging the transformative power of digital payments, Visa is helping individuals and businesses gain more control over their financial lives, expand their access to markets, and unlock new growth opportunities.
For consumers, Visa Pay provides a secure and convenient tool to manage money, shop online, and transact across networks without friction. For businesses, the solution enables easier payment acceptance and greater participation in the digital economy. And for the country as a whole, Visa Pay lays the foundation for increased digital adoption, stronger financial resilience, and economic progress.
With Visa Pay, Visa is reinforcing its long-standing commitment to advancing inclusive, secure, and innovative payment solutions worldwide—solutions that empower individuals, transform communities, and drive long-term economic growth.
