Mastercard and Scale have stepped up their cooperation to simplify card issuance for fintechs and non-financial institutions operating in Sub-Saharan Africa.
This enhanced collaboration introduces a unified model for integration, aimed at streamlining the process of launching both virtual and physical card programs. It builds upon an earlier agreement between Mastercard and Scale announced in 2024, moving towards active market deployment.
Tackling structural barriers to card issuance
In numerous African markets, organizations aiming to provide card-based payment solutions often face the challenge of coordinating separately with various entities such as payment networks, BIN sponsors, and issuing processors. This process can be time-consuming and operationally intensive. The collaborative integration solution developed by Mastercard and Scale simplifies this onboarding by consolidating the requirements for processing, compliance, and onboarding into a single streamlined pathway, thereby reducing the number of independent touch points that businesses must handle.
Under the partnership, Mastercard brings its global payment network access, market expertise, and relationships with banking partners. Scale contributes by providing issuing infrastructure, customer onboarding tools, and regulatory support. This combined offering is designed to enable businesses to bring card programs to market more efficiently without needing to manage the underlying operational complexities directly.
The initiative also aligns with efforts towards greater financial inclusion in Sub-Saharan Africa where formal payment options are not always widely available. By reducing the barriers for deploying card programs, this collaboration aims to support fintechs and non-FIs in extending digital financial services to consumers and businesses that operate outside the traditional banking system.
The expanded collaboration spans diverse African markets, each with unique regulatory landscapes and varying levels of payments infrastructure. Both companies will continue to prioritize meeting client needs, preferences, and demands while ensuring compliance with industry regulations and laws.
