FNB and Visa have renewed its partnership, reinforcing a relationship that has helped South Africans and customers across Africa pay and get paid more easily, for more than 55 years. The partnership has played a key role in shaping payments in South Africa.
The renewal of the partnership ensures FNB remains well positioned to continue delivering world-class payment solutions, expanding financial inclusion and driving digital transformation and innovation across South Africa and the broader Africa markets in which the bank operates.
The agreement marks the continuation of a trusted relationship that began mid-1966, built on a foundation of innovation, resilience, and customer-centricity. According to Harry Kellan, CEO of FNB, this renewal demonstrates FNB’s forward-focused ambition to further expand access to secure digital payments, support small businesses and lead in financial services innovation across the continent.
“This isn’t just a contract renewal – it’s a reaffirmation of a partnership that has consistently set the standard for digital payments in South Africa,” Kellan explains. “We see payments as a core enabler of inclusive growth, and partnering with Visa allows us to continue removing barriers, delivering secure and seamless payment experiences, and reaching customers in new ways across our markets to ensure digital financial access is universal and effortless.”
Over the course of the partnership, FNB and Visa have jointly pioneered several market-first initiatives that have transformed how customers pay and manage money. These include:
- Pioneering digital wallets – FNB led the rollout of Fitbit Pay and Garmin Pay in 2018, followed by Apple Pay in 2021, all of which were key milestones in mainstreaming contactless payments in South Africa. Today, more than 60% of all FNB card-present transactions are contactless.
- Enabling instant payments – In 2022, FNB became the first bank in South Africa to launch peer-to-peer domestic instant payments via Visa Direct (FNB Instant Pay), reaching over a million transactions in its first year.
- Contactless tolling and small business support – The partnership has supported initiatives such as tap-and-go toll payments and expanded acceptance for small merchants, bringing fast, frictionless payment capabilities to more South African consumers and businesses.
- Driving payment security – FNB and Visa work closely to ensure that every FNB card transaction is processed securely, reflecting both companies’ commitment to fraud prevention and customer trust.
Lineshree Moodley, Country Head for Visa South Africa, also welcomed the renewal, noting its significance in strengthening financial ecosystems across Africa. “Renewing our partnership with FNB is a strategic milestone in Visa’s journey to accelerate digital inclusion across Africa. Together, we’ve built a resilient foundation of innovation and trust, enabling secure, scalable payment solutions that meet the needs of a rapidly evolving market. As we look ahead, this collaboration will continue to be at the forefront of unlocking new possibilities for individuals and businesses, driving sustainable growth and strengthening the continent’s financial infrastructure.”
This strategic partnership with Visa enables FNB to continue evolving with our customers’ needs in mind across all our Africa operations. It directly supports our goal of maintaining leadership in card spend market share while expanding everyday acceptance infrastructure. “Together, we’ll keep investing where it matters most – scaling payments innovation and delivering secure, reliable digital transactions that earn trust — transaction after transaction, in every community we serve,” concludes Kellan.
