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Dashen Bank, Visa Sign Five-Year Deal to Expand Digital Payments in Ethiopia
The partnership will focus on payment acceptance, card issuance, cross-border transactions and new digital payment solutions.
Dashen Bank and Visa have signed a five-year strategic partnership to expand digital payments and financial inclusion in Ethiopia.
The agreement brings together Dashen Bank’s local market reach and Visa’s global payments expertise. Together, the two companies will work to expand secure, convenient and accessible payment solutions across the country.
The partnership comes as Ethiopia continues to develop its digital payments ecosystem. The National Bank of Ethiopia’s draft National Digital Payments Strategy 2026–2030 identifies wider payment adoption, stronger merchant acceptance and improved cross-border payments among its priorities.
Expanding Digital Payment Access
Under the agreement, Dashen Bank and Visa will collaborate on several areas of the payments ecosystem.
These include expanding digital payment acceptance and increasing card issuance. The partners will also strengthen cross-border payment capabilities.
In addition, they will explore new payment experiences that respond to the changing needs of consumers and businesses.
The partnership is therefore expected to support wider participation in Ethiopia’s digital economy.
Dashen Bank already has a broad payments infrastructure across the country. Its network includes more than 900 branches, over 1,000 ATMs and more than 2,000 point-of-sale terminals.
Supporting Financial Inclusion
Digital payments can help customers access financial services without relying entirely on cash.
For businesses, wider digital payment acceptance can also create more ways to receive payments from customers. Furthermore, stronger payment infrastructure can support transactions across different markets.
Dashen Bank CEO Asfaw Alemu said innovation and customer value remain central to the bank’s strategy.
“This strategic partnership with Visa strengthens our ability to provide world-class payment solutions that are secure, convenient and accessible to more Ethiopians,” he said.
Alemu added that the collaboration will help expand digital payment access and support Ethiopia’s digital transformation.
Dashen Bank, Visa Sign Five-Year Deal to Expand Digital Payments in Ethiopia
Strengthening Cross-Border Payments
Cross-border payments are another focus of the five-year partnership.
For consumers and businesses operating across borders, efficient payment systems can make international transactions easier.
The two organisations will therefore work on strengthening cross-border capabilities alongside domestic payment acceptance.
Visa’s global network will complement Dashen Bank’s established presence in Ethiopia. The bank already works with international payment brands and provides card and payment services to customers.
Visa Eastern Africa Cluster Head and Country Manager for Ethiopia Yared Woldesenbet said the agreement marks an important milestone for the company’s work in Ethiopia.
“By combining Visa’s global network, innovation capabilities and deep payments expertise with Dashen Bank’s strong market presence and customer reach, we will accelerate the adoption of secure digital payments,” he said.
Building Ethiopia’s Digital Economy
The partnership establishes a five-year framework for continued collaboration.
Its focus will remain on payment innovation, acceptance infrastructure, digital payment usage and customer value.
The timing also aligns with Ethiopia’s broader push towards a more integrated digital payments ecosystem.
The National Bank of Ethiopia’s draft strategy envisions an inclusive and trusted payments environment. It also highlights stronger digital infrastructure, wider adoption and more secure cross-border payments as key areas for development.
For Dashen Bank and Visa, the partnership provides a platform to build on that transformation.
As digital payments become more central to everyday commerce, the collaboration could create more opportunities for consumers, merchants and businesses to participate in Ethiopia’s growing digital economy.
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