Visa and Tingo Mobile partner to expand digital payment channels across Africa

By Leandra Monteiro

Tingo Mobile, and Visa announced the launch of their pan-African strategic partnership, which aims to improve access to digital payments and financial services and drive financial inclusion across Africa.

The launch of the Tingo Visa card, together with the new TingoPay Super App and the TingoPay business portal, opens significant global opportunities to Tingo’s subscribers, allowing secure cashless payments at more than 61 million merchants in over 200 countries through Visa’s global network.

Dozy Mmobuosi, Founder of Tingo Mobile and Chief Executive Officer of Tingo Group Holdings LLC, said, “Our partnership with Visa and the launch of the Tingo Visa card and the TingoPay super app mark significant milestones as we strive to achieve our mission of delivering financial inclusion throughout Africa.

“SMEs in all business sectors stand to benefit from our new range of Tingo Visa merchant services and the TingoPay business portal, whereas our smallholder farmer customers will see significant additional advantages through the integration of TingoPay with our Nwassa agri-marketplace platform. We are immensely proud of the progress we are making towards empowering Africa’s farmers and SMEs, and we look forward to introducing our suite of products to other markets in the future.”

Customers can access their Tingo Visa card via the TingoPay Super App and use it to make online transactions in their domestic or foreign currencies, as well as to manage their cards, set up repeat payments and access transaction statements. The Tingo Visa card’s interface with the TingoPay super app and e-wallet allows customers to use their digital money easily and securely for both online and physical payments anywhere Visa is accepted.

Additionally, TingoPay’s users can benefit from a broad selection of value-added services, including the ability to pay utilities and bills, top-up airtime and data, make funds and forex transfers, apply for loans, arrange pensions, purchase insurance products, make travel bookings and access the Nwassa agricultural produce marketplace.

Andrew Uaboi, Vice President and Head, Visa West Africa, said, “We believe in innovation-led collaborations, and that fintechs remain core to solving the access to financial services gap in Africa. Partnerships are fundamental to our business model and this expansion of our strategic alliance with Tingo Mobile is another example of how we can help our clients through the delivery of improved customer experiences.

“Given the importance of the agricultural sector to Africa’s present and future, this partnership will help to digitize the entire value chain for farmers by enabling seamless digital payments which will facilitate economic growth and support the financial inclusion agenda across the continent. We are proud to partner with Tingo Mobile and support their ambitions to bring more Africans into the financial system with relevant digital solutions.”