Ethiopia has officially entered the digital payment race with the launch of its first-ever domestic credit card, marking a major step in the country’s push to modernize its financial services sector. The groundbreaking initiative is a collaboration between SanuPay, a local payment processor, and OpenWay, a global digital payment software provider based in Belgium.
This development positions Ethiopia as a rising player in East Africa’s digital payment revolution, which has long been dominated by mobile money services like Kenya’s M-Pesa. Although Ethiopia’s mobile money platform, Telebirr, has experienced rapid growth since its 2021 debut—boasting over 51 million users and handling billions in transaction volume—the use of credit cards has remained extremely limited.
The newly launched Ethiopian domestic credit card is designed to bridge this gap by offering customers greater financial flexibility and accessibility. Local banks can now issue credit cards that are directly linked to birr-based accounts, giving users a convenient way to shop, pay bills, and withdraw cash both online and in-store.
Key features of the card include:
- Full interoperability across banks, ATMs, and point-of-sale (POS) terminals
- A seamless link to local currency accounts for easier domestic transactions
- A boost to Ethiopia’s broader goal of achieving a cashless economy
With this milestone, Ethiopia is not only diversifying its digital finance infrastructure but also paving the way for future innovations in fintech and financial inclusion. As the credit card system rolls out across the country, it is expected to empower consumers, promote spending, and strengthen the nation’s formal banking sector.