In a landmark collaboration, Ecobank Group, a leading pan-African financial services institution, has joined forces with American Express to significantly broaden the acceptance of American Express Cards across twenty-one African countries.
Under this agreement, American Express Card Members will now have the convenience of using their cards in twelve new nations, including the Central African Republic, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Niger, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, and Togo.
Moreover, retailers in nine additional nations will witness a surge in the number of businesses equipped to accept American Express Card payments. These countries include Cape Verde, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Nigeria, the Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.
This partnership marks a significant expansion of American Express’ footprint in Sub-Saharan Africa, empowering Card Members to leverage their cards across a broader spectrum of locations. Additionally, it opens up exciting prospects for businesses, granting them access to a new clientele comprising American Express consumer, commercial, and corporate Card Members from Africa and beyond.
Jeremy Awori, CEO of Ecobank Group, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, “We are thrilled to welcome American Express to our network, reaffirming our commitment to delivering innovative payment solutions for customers across Africa. This agreement not only enriches the experience of American Express Card Members but also fosters growth opportunities for merchants. It underscores the scalability of Ecobank’s unparalleled borderless banking ecosystem and network throughout Africa.”
Mohammed Badi, President of Global Network Services at American Express, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the significance of the partnership. “This agreement with Ecobank represents a major milestone for American Express acceptance across Africa,” he remarked. “Expanding our presence in sub-Saharan Africa from 30 countries to 42, with Ecobank’s support, we anticipate providing merchants in these nations access to high-spending American Express Card Members, both locally and globally.”
The collaboration between Ecobank and American Express aligns seamlessly with Ecobank’s strategic objective of Growth, Transformation, and Returns. Through this partnership, Ecobank remains steadfast in its mission to deliver innovative and user-friendly financial solutions to retail customers across Africa via its integrated banking platform.
