Visa Pay Launches In DRC, Congo
Visa has launched Visa Pay in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), introducing a new digital service that allows consumers and businesses to pay, get paid, and transfer money across participating banks and mobile networks.
The platform is designed to be interoperable and secure, supporting both banked and unbanked. The launch comes as digital payments continue to grow across Africa. In the DRC, cash remains the main way people pay, from small market stalls to larger transactions. That makes the shift to digital both difficult and necessary, difficult because of gaps in infrastructure and public trust, and necessary because many are looking for faster and more reliable ways to move money.
Visa Pay enters this landscape as one more option in a market gradually opening up to digital payments. The service is being introduced in partnership with eight banks: Access Banque, BGFI, Equity Bank, FBN, Sofibanque, Solidaire Banque, TMB, and UBA.
Commenting on the launch, Sophie Kafuti, General Manager for Visa DRC, noted, “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.”
Users can download the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, while partner banks can integrate its features directly into their own mobile apps. The service supports near real-time transfers in both Congolese Franc (CDF) and US Dollars (USD), offers cash-in and cash-out at participating branches, and enables online purchases through virtual cards.
