ADDING MULTIMEDIA MasterCard and Equity Bank Announce Partnership to Introduce PayPass™ Enabled Debit and Prepaid Cards in Five African Markets

Program to increase financial inclusion, boost EMV migration and introduce Mobile Point of Sale systems

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Dr. James Mwangi, Equity Bank CEO, and Ajay Banga, MasterCard Worldwide President and CEO, celebrate an agreement between MasterCard and Equity Bank to issue five-million MasterCard(R) PayPass(TM) debit, and prepaid cards over the next 18 months, at a signing ceremony in Nairobi, Kenya on Tuesday Jan. 15, 2013. The MasterCard cards with chip-enabled technology will be issued first into the Kenyan market and then extended into Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and South Sudan. The initiative introduces MasterCard(R) PayPass(TM), with the first ever installation of PayPass enabled point of sale terminals across the region, and Mobile Point of Sale systems, which allows merchants to receive payments via low cost add-ons linked to secure applications on their mobile devices. In a move towards increasing financial inclusion in Kenya and East Africa at large, this program caters specifically to the unbanked and under-banked population, empowering African consumers to use electronic payments which provide a safe and secure way to pay versus cash and other forms of payment. (Riccardo Gangale /AP Images for Mastercard Worldwide)

NAIROBI, Kenya--()--MasterCard and Equity Bank of Kenya today announced an agreement at a signing ceremony in Nairobi to issue five-million MasterCard-branded debit and prepaid cards, over the next 18 months. This program empowers African consumers to use electronic payments which provide a safe and secure way to pay versus cash and other forms of payment.

As a result of the partnership, MasterCard debit and prepaid cards with chip-enabled technology will be issued, first into the Kenyan market and then extended into Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and South Sudan, signaling the largest rollout of EMV payment cards in sub-Saharan Africa to date. The cards will also introduce MasterCard® PayPass™ with the first ever installation of PayPass enabled point of sale terminals across the region.

The suite of products that will be made available in the East African region will include Mobile Point of Sale (MPOS) technology which allows merchants to receive payments via low cost add-ons linked to secure applications on their mobile devices (such as a smart phone or tablet). This technology will extend the security and convenience of electronic payments to merchants and their customers who previously depended on cash to transact.

“MasterCard is committed to extending financial inclusion across East Africa and the rest of the continent, introducing the unbanked and under-banked to the benefits of electronic payments”, said Ajay Banga, MasterCard president and CEO. “Our vision of a world beyond cash is only achievable through collaborations with industry stakeholders, such as the Equity Bank partnership. Working together with governments, financial institutions, merchants and businesses, we will be able to help modernize the payment industry in East Africa,” Banga concluded.

According to the Finscope Rwanda 2012 survey, financial inclusion in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda stands at 33%, 30%, 56% and 28.1% respectively, indicating the opportunity for both Equity Bank and MasterCard to extend financial inclusion to those previously not exposed to the benefits of electronic payment solutions.

Dr. James Mwangi, CEO and Managing Director of Equity Bank commented, “We aim to support East African governments in achieving their goals for greater financial inclusion. The partnership with MasterCard will help to solidify our position as one of the leading banks in East Africa. Working with various Central Banks across the region is essential to understanding these goals and designing tailor made solutions for each market. The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) for example estimates that if financial institutions in the region reached the estimated 12 million Kenyans who currently have no access to formal financial services, approximately Kshs. 300 billion (3.5 billion USD) will be added to the formal banking system.”

“We have chosen MasterCard as our partner due to the fact that we have a shared vision of an East Africa that is more financially inclusive for all its citizens and less dependent on cash. Cardholders will be able to use their MasterCard PayPass debit or prepaid cards at any location that accepts MasterCard worldwide. Special promotional offers will be announced during the rollout of the campaign,” Mwangi concluded.

Globally, PayPass is present in 48 countries and accepted at nearly 550,000 merchant locations. MasterCard cards are accepted at more than 34 million points around the world.

The partnership between MasterCard and Equity Bank is part of the payments solutions provider’s goal of increasing its business in the region by providing added value to more customers, while at the same time encouraging the uptake of cashless transactions in the region as envisioned in its pursuit of a cashless global economy.

About MasterCard:

MasterCard(NYSE: MA), www.mastercard.com,is a global payments and technology company. It operates the world’s fastest payments processing network, connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. MasterCard’s products and solutions make everyday commerce activities – such as shopping, traveling, running a business and managing finances – easier, more secure and more efficient for everyone. Follow us on Twitter @MasterCardNews, join the discussion on the Cashless Conversations Blog and subscribe for the latest news.

About Equity Bank:

Equity Bank is an all-inclusive financial services provider with a growing pan-African footprint. Listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE: EQTY) and Uganda Securities Exchange (USE: EBL) and with over 8 million customers spread across five East African markets, we have grown from humble beginnings as a provider of mortgage financing to Kenya’s low income population to Africa’s biggest bank by customer base. Our vision is “to be the champion of the socio-economic prosperity of the people of Africa,” a vision we continue to pursue through a business model that is anchored on access, convenience and flexibility for our clients.

Contacts

MasterCard Middle East & Africa Communications
Sami Lahoud, +971-56-216-9273
sami_lahoud@mastercard.com
or
MasterCard Worldwide Communications
Marcy Cohen, +1-914-249-2214
marcy_cohen@mastercard.com

Release Summary

MasterCard and Equity Bank of Kenya today announced an agreement at a signing ceremony in Nairobi to issue five-million MasterCard-branded credit, debit and prepaid cards, over the next 18 months.

Contacts

MasterCard Middle East & Africa Communications
Sami Lahoud, +971-56-216-9273
sami_lahoud@mastercard.com
or
MasterCard Worldwide Communications
Marcy Cohen, +1-914-249-2214
marcy_cohen@mastercard.com