Visa has launched Visa Pay in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), unveiling a mobile-first payments solution designed to serve both banked and unbanked populations. The rollout was announced via local media and the platform’s official channels, marking a major step toward financial inclusion in a country still heavily reliant on cash.
Accessible as a standalone app on iOS and Android and seamlessly integrable into partner banks’ platforms, Visa Pay enables users to send money, make payments, and conduct transfers in both Congolese francs (CDF) and U.S. dollars (USD). Features include virtual cards for online commerce and near-real-time account-to-account transactions.
The service is now live in collaboration with eight local financial institutions: Access Banque, FBN, Sofibanque, Solidaire Banque, UBA, BGFI, Equity Bank, and TMB. Users can also execute cash-in and cash-out operations at bank branches.
Sophie Kafuti, Visa’s General Manager for the DRC, affirmed that Visa Pay supports “interoperable, secure, fast, and reliable” payments. The launch underscores Visa’s commitment to driving innovation and expanding the digital economy in the country.
Strategically, the DRC serves as a pilot market for Visa’s broader financial inclusion efforts. The firm has already established a local office and conducted initiatives such as distributing Visa-linked M-Pesa cards via partnership with Vodacom and rolling out a $1 million financial education program in partnership with the Financial Inclusion Fund (FPM).
Visa Pay’s launch offers Congolese users fast, flexible payment options on low-data, mobile-friendly platforms. It bridges the traditional banking and digital finance worlds, creating a smoother path to financial participation across demographics and locations. With continued expansion, Visa Pay is poised to become a key driver of economic growth and digital transformation in DRC.
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