Ethiopia Launches Its First National Credit Card with OpenWay and SanuPay

Introduction

In a groundbreaking move for the financial landscape of East Africa, Ethiopia has introduced its very first national credit card, developed through a collaboration between SanuPay, a cutting-edge payment processing company, and OpenWay, a leader in digital payment software. This launch represents a pivotal moment in the country's transition towards a more modernized and digitized financial infrastructure.

The New Card Ecosystem

The new credit card ecosystem is powered by OpenWay's Way4 platform, which delivers comprehensive solutions for card issuance, acquisition, switching, and mobile wallets. Under this initiative, SanuPay plans to issue a total of 4 million debit and prepaid cards alongside 5,000 Visa and Mastercard credit cards. Additionally, SanuPay will operate approximately 10,000 point-of-sale terminals and 200 ATM machines across the nation, all streamlined on the Way4 system. Oromia Bank is set to be one of the first institutions to roll out these national credit cards, with plans to also launch a co-branded loyalty card in collaboration with Sheba Miles.

Support and Infrastructure

The national infrastructure supporting this ambitious deployment is backed by SantimPay, an official payment system operator accredited by the National Bank of Ethiopia. SantimPay aims to construct a cashless and connected economy, ensuring that the switching and processing of local transactions are secure, efficient, and compliant with regulatory standards.

Regional Aspirations

SanuPay's ambitions extend beyond Ethiopia's borders. In Kenya, it is partnering with local banks and fintech companies to modernize card processing, remittance services, and cross-border payments. Meanwhile, in Rwanda, SanuPay will equip fintech companies with the tools for issuing virtual cards, implementing tokenization, launching digital wallets, and integrating mobile payment solutions.

OpenWay's Proven Impact

OpenWay's Way4 platform has already showcased its effectiveness in the African market through collaborations with institutions like Equity Bank. Its modular design and no-code configurability—where 95% of its features can be launched without the need for custom development—make it an ideal solution for fast-evolving markets.

Vision for the Future

Alfred Gachaga, CEO of SanuPay, expressed confidence in their choice of technology, stating, "We have selected the best solution to deliver premier payment services in Ethiopia. Partnering with OpenWay and deploying Way4 sets the stage for a resilient, scalable, and compliant infrastructure that underpins Africa's digital financial transformation."
Hermann Mike, OpenWay’s regional director for Sub-Saharan Africa, emphasized the importance of their partnership, stating, "This collaboration with SanuPay showcases our commitment to empowering innovative financial institutions throughout Africa. Way4 enables Ethiopia to issue its first national credit card while laying the groundwork for a modern, inclusive, and interoperable payment landscape."

Conclusion

This initiative not only represents Ethiopia's advancement in financial technology but also sets a replicable model for regional fintech growth—a local, scalable initiative poised to redefine the next-generation payment ecosystem across Africa. As Ethiopia continues its journey towards modernization in financial services, SanuPay's leadership will be crucial in navigating this transformative landscape.