• Visa Pay is an interoperable payments solution that enables users to pay, get paid and move money.  
• Visa Pay is now available as a mobile app on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store and as a flexible integration option for banks to embed Visa Pay features directly into their own mobile apps. 
• Visa Pay will be first available through five partner banks — Access Banque, FBN, Sofibanque, Solidaire Banque, and UBA with BGFI, Equity Bank and TMB launching soon.

Visa, a global leader in digital payments, has launched Visa Pay, an innovative mobile solution that provides access to digital payments and account-to-account money movement in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Visa Pay is an interoperable and secure way for banked and unbanked consumers to pay, get paid, and move money across participating banks and mobile networks.  

With a focus on accessibility, affordability, and convenience, Visa Pay is tailored to meet the unique financial needs of individuals and businesses in the country.

As a mobile-first solution, Visa Pay offers easy enrolment, advanced risk and fraud prevention capabilities, and near real-time account-to-account money movement in two currencies – CDF and USD.

It also enables cash in / cash out at banks’ branches and facilitates online payments through virtual cards. 

The launching in the DRC in partnership with eight financial institutions: Access Banque, BGFI, Equity Bank, FBN, Sofibanque, Solidaire Banque, TMB, and UBA.

It is available as a mobile app on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store and also as a flexible integration option for banks, allowing them to embed Visa Pay features directly into their own mobile apps. 

Sophie Kafuti, general manager for Visa DRC said: “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”. 

The launch of solution in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) exemplifies Visa’s commitment to promoting financial inclusion and supporting economic growth.

By harnessing the transformative power of digital payments with local partnerships, Visa aims to unlock opportunities and empower both individuals and businesses to achieve their full potential. 

In a statement on Friday, signed by Dr. Omoniyi Ibietan, secretary-general, APRA, the body said it is greatly concerned about the increasing terror attacks in Burkina Faso and in other parts of Africa.

“The umbrella body of practitioners and  professionals of  public relations in  Africa hereby calls for the cessation of all forms of attacks, especially on unarmed people. We call for dialogue as a more civil approach to resolving conflicts instead of violent attacks leading to destruction and catastrophic outcomes that leave the continent more devastated.

“We  are  gravely disturbed by  this recent attack in  Burkina Faso, coming on  the  heels of  the  death of over 500 persons due to mpox scourge caused by the monkeypox  virus  ravaging  the  Democratic Republic of  Congo, DRC, the hotbed of  the health crisis; and the distressing floods caused by  the collapse of the Arba’ at Dam in the east of the Republic of Sudan, destroying or impacting about 70 communities and affecting telecommunication infrastructure and other utilities. These and many emergent humanitarian crises in Africa have been overwhelming enough for a great but challenged continent. Therefore, entrenched terror attacks can only worsen efforts at restoring the glory of the continent.

“As a body of communication managers, APRA iterates its call for increased, sincere and responsible conversation and concrete actions among state actors and other stakeholders in  Africa  to  address these and future challenges, many of which are heralded by warning signs.

“Therefore, APRA calls on the World Health Organisation (WHO) to resume strengthening collaboration with  the  government  and people of DRC because mpox is yet to be defeated as an existential global health issue.

He said that APRA stands in solidarity with the Governments and people of Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Sudan.

“We  commiserate with those who have lost family members and friends. We also wish those injured and displaced speedy recovery”, the statement reads.