Kinshasa, 16 December 2025 – Rawbank, the leading bank in the Democratic Republic of Congo, announces the renewal for five years of its strategic partnership with Visa. This agreement marks the start of a new phase in a collaboration launched more than fifteen years ago, which has played a decisive role in modernizing payments in the DRC and accelerating the digitization of financial services, in line with national priorities for financial inclusion.
Strong results over the 2022–2025 cycle
Between 2022 and 2025, Rawbank and Visa supported the rapid growth of digital usage, with increasing adoption of electronic payments in a country where cash remains dominant. This partnership helped structure the payments ecosystem: modernization of acceptance infrastructure, expansion of the merchant network, support for the take-off of e-commerce, and promotional campaigns around major global sporting events such as AFCON, the FIFA World Cup, and the Olympic Games. These campaigns helped familiarize the Congolese public with digital payment habits.
Rawbank, a key partner for payment tokenization
In this new cycle, Rawbank positions itself as the leading partner bank for payment tokenization in the DRC, enabling consumers and businesses to benefit from more secure and innovative transactions. This initiative reflects a shared commitment to strengthening trust in digital payments and supporting the shift toward a more connected economy.
A new cycle focused on innovation, business solutions and international expansion
Rawbank and Visa aim to accelerate the development of business solutions dedicated to small and medium-sized enterprises, including spend management tools designed to professionalize SME financial management. The expansion of offerings for affluent customers and the strengthening of cross-border solutions are also among the priorities, to meet the needs of a diverse client base and support the growth of international trade. On the merchant side, the expansion of acceptance solutions, physical terminals, online solutions, and remote payment tools—will support e-commerce growth and enhance transaction security.
In parallel, the two partners are preparing the launch of Companion Cards and virtual cards, designed in collaboration with telecommunications operators, to better match mobile use cases and offer greater flexibility for individuals and businesses alike. Targeted financial inclusion campaigns—particularly via the Visa Academia Card and future joint programs—will focus more specifically on youth, women, and entrepreneurs, with a financial education component and improved access to formal banking services.
“This renewal confirms the strength of a partnership that has profoundly transformed the use of financial services in the DRC. With Visa, we are pursuing a clear objective: to offer Congolese people modern, secure payment solutions tailored to their needs,” said Mustafa Rawji, Chief Executive Officer of Rawbank.
“We are delighted to renew our collaboration with Rawbank for a new five-year cycle, with the ambition to modernize acceptance, stimulate e-commerce, and deploy innovative mobile solutions. Together, we want to broaden access to digital financial services in the DRC and accelerate inclusion for all,” stated Sophie Kafuti, Country Manager of Visa in the DRC.
With this five-year renewal, Rawbank and Visa intend to consolidate their position as pillars of the payments ecosystem in the DRC and to establish themselves over the long term as two benchmark players in the transition toward a more digital, more formal and more inclusive economy—at a time when the Congolese market is attracting increasing attention from international observers and investors.
About RAWBANK
For 23 years, with total assets of USD 6.2 billion, Rawbank has supported the development of the Congolese economy. The number one bank in the DRC for 13 years, Rawbank offers the most modern products and services to its 500,000+ Corporate, SME and individual customers through a network of more than 100 branches in 19 provinces, a digital offering with Illicocash, online banking and more than 320 ATMs. Its performance has been recognized with the African Bankers Award 2022 and 2024 for Best Regional Bank in Central Africa, a Moody’s B3 rating, and ISO/IEC 20000 and ISO/IEC 27001 certifications. Partners that trust RAWBANK include: IFC, AfDB, TDB, BADEA, AGF, etc. For more information, visit our website: www.rawbank.com
About VISA
Visa (NYSE: V) is a global leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities in more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere uplift everyone everywhere, and we consider access fundamental to the future of the movement of money. Learn more at Visa.com.
