Happy Pay and Ozow Partnership Expands Access to Interest-Free Buy Now, Pay Later

Two leading South African fintech companies, Happy Pay and Ozow, have announced a strategic partnership that will bring zero deposit, interest-free Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services to merchants across Ozow’s extensive network.

Happy Pay, an ad-subsidised payments platform, provides installment payment options where the cost is funded through merchant partnerships rather than consumer fees. This model aligns with Happy Pay’s mission of making flexible payments accessible without burdening shoppers. The company previously raised a US$5 million seed round in March to support its growth.

Ozow, which rebranded from i-Pay in 2019, is a widely used payment platform that connects businesses to over 47 million South African bank accounts. It enables various payment methods including QR codes, point of sale systems, and online transactions, serving both merchants and consumers across multiple channels.

The integration allows Ozow merchants to activate Happy Pay’s BNPL option with minimal effort – requiring no additional development work or contract changes. Merchants can start offering zero deposit installments the same day they enable the feature within their existing checkout setup.

“BNPL is evolving from a niche payment trend to a standard customer expectation,” said Wesley Billett, CEO of Happy Pay. “By partnering with Ozow, we’re extending this capability to more businesses while maintaining a seamless and responsible experience.” Lyle Eckstein, Chief Commercial Officer at Ozow added, “This partnership gives merchants access to a proven method that can drive conversions and reach new customer segments without adding complexity.”

The collaboration represents the latest in a series of strategic partnerships for both companies. Happy Pay recently partnered with Peach Payments, while Ozow has integrated with Duplo in Nigeria, expanding their regional footprint.