Firms team up to extend digital payments to global markets

Diamond Trust Bank (DTB) has joined African payment services provider DPO Group and Mastercard in the rollout of a business to business (B2B) virtual payment card in Kenya and Tanzania.

The DPO Virtual Card is expected to improve the reach and ability of businesses to make instant digital payments to other businesses in Africa and across the world without the need for a physical credit card, debit card or bank account, improving cash flow for firms and opening up African businesses to other markets.

Merchants of the DPO Virtual Card will receive a 16-digit card number, security code and expiry date. This will act as a digital account which can be used worldwide much like a physical card.

The virtual card will enable online payments to be made to any vendor both within and outside the DPO network, decreasing the risk of fraud and loss.

The card has been piloted by travel and tourism operators who have used it to pay international suppliers and other vendors.

From left to right: Adam Jones, Area Business Head, East Africa, Mastercard; Eran Feinstein, CEO of DPO and Faroul Khimji, Head of Products and Marketing at DTB.

“Already, more than 50 per cent of transactions at DTB are done outside the bank, and this is made possible because of the excellent IT infrastructure in this country. We are happy to be the sponsor bank for the DPO Virtual Card and look forward to the growth that this will bring to our business,” said DTB’s Head of Products and Marketing, Farouk Khimji.

“This partnership between DPO Group, DTB Group and Mastercard is an exciting development not only for DPO Group but also for African businesses which will be able to transact swiftly and securely, reach new markets and grow with the virtual card,” said Eran Feinstein, CEO of DPO Group.

The virtual card replaces the need for merchants to make wire transfers to international merchants, allowing them to avoid foreign currency conversion fees.

As well as being a multiple use card, the DPO Virtual Card is also available as a one-time use card; creating a card number that is used only once and for a specific purpose, making the process secure, easy to track and reconcile.

Adam Jones, Area Business Head, East Africa, Mastercard added, “Mastercard is constantly partnering with key stakeholders to deliver relevant solutions that enable consumers and merchants to transact more efficiently and safely. This partnership with DTB and DPO will enable even more businesses of all sizes in Kenya and Tanzania to leverage Mastercard’s virtual card technology to make seamless transactions across borders removing several barriers to trade and enabling them efficiently track and reconcile all payments.”

DPO Group is in the process of securing partner banks, like DTB, in other countries across Africa, which will allow it to facilitate more virtual card payments in bid to give businesses in other African countries greater access to the global market.