Stanbic, Visa step up drive for cross-border digital payments
Stanbic Bank Head of Personal Banking, Emmanuel Mahodanga (left), Visa Tanzania Country Manager, Victor Makere (right), present an award to Leila Lembariti (centre), an officer from Stanbic Bank's Private Banking Unit, in recognition of her outstanding performance in the XB Campaign, which encouraged customers to use payment cards instead of cash. The award presentation ceremony was held in Dar es Salaam.
Dar es Salaam. Stanbic Bank Tanzania and Visa have intensified efforts to expand secure cross-border digital payments, reporting a sharp increase in card usage as Tanzania accelerates its transition towards a cashless economy.
The two organisations said a recently concluded campaign targeting Stanbic's Personal and Private Banking customers recorded a 113 percent increase in card transaction volumes and a 201 percent rise in transaction value. Card activation also surged, rising by 3,082 percent in transaction volume and 449 percent in value.
The campaign comes as Tanzania rolls out measures to promote digital payments across key sectors, supported by the National Financial Inclusion Framework (2023–2028), which seeks to expand access to affordable financial services.
The initiative encouraged customers to use Stanbic Visa cards for international travel, online shopping, tuition payments and cross-border business transactions. It also included customer education on the security and convenience of digital payments compared with cash.
Stanbic Bank's Head of Personal Banking, Mr Emmanuel Mahodanga, said the results demonstrated growing customer confidence in secure digital payments and reflected Tanzania's readiness to embrace a more connected financial system.
"These numbers tell us Tanzanians are ready to embrace secure digital payments. Our partnership with Visa is about more than issuing cards; it is about enabling customers to participate fully in a digital economy," he said.
He added that as Tanzania moves towards cashless payments, the bank is focused on providing secure, globally accepted payment solutions for customers travelling, studying abroad or conducting international business.
Visa Tanzania Country Manager, Mr Victor Makere, said the partnership supports the country's wider digital transformation agenda.
"We are proud to work with Stanbic Bank in advancing secure, seamless digital payments at a time when Tanzania is making significant progress towards a cashless economy," he said.
He noted that the growth in card usage highlighted the impact of strong partnerships in building customer confidence in cross-border transactions while supporting the country's goal of greater financial inclusion.
Stanbic Visa cards enable customers to make secure payments at millions of merchants worldwide, supporting international travel, online purchases, overseas education payments and global business transactions. Cardholders also benefit from enhanced security features, travel privileges and merchant offers.
Looking ahead, the two partners said they will continue working together to expand digital payment adoption through customer education, wider access to Visa's global rewards and offers, and data-driven solutions designed to improve customer experience.
The initiative forms part of Stanbic Bank's broader strategy to deliver innovative banking services while supporting Tanzania's transition to a more digital, connected and financially inclusive economy.
