Bridging Financial Inclusion Gaps With Innovative Payment Solutions

In a significant move toward financial inclusion across Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (CEMEA), Visa has announced a partnership with fintech companies _able and Onafriq. This collaboration aims to leverage the Visa Flex Credential—a technology that allows issuers to offer multiple funding sources through a single card—to extend credit access to previously underserved populations.

The initiative seeks to capitalize on the widespread adoption of debit and prepaid cards in African markets while addressing the limited availability of formal credit products. By enabling institutions to offer additional financial services through familiar payment experiences, the Visa Flex Credential promises a more seamless customer journey and broader financial inclusion.

How the Partnership Works

• Visa provides its global payment network and technology infrastructure
• _able offers its credit enablement platform for risk management and portfolio optimization
• Onafriq handles payment processing through its pan-African infrastructure

This integrated approach simplifies implementation for financial institutions while expanding the range of services they can offer—from traditional credit to digital savings solutions.

Addressing a Critical Need

“Most consumers across this region already hold a card, and very few can access credit through it,” noted Jad Abbas, Co-Founder and CFO of _able. “Visa Flex Credential turns that gap into a channel, and _able provides the infrastructure to activate it responsibly and at scale.”

The partnership represents an opportunity for financial institutions to deepen customer engagement, unlock new revenue streams, and drive operational efficiencies by offering more flexible payment options.