PayPal makes small-biz push in Africa; Garmin, Fitbit grow payment footprint

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Ease of entry

PayPal is partnering with African payments firm Flutterwave to improve connections between businesses in Africa and PayPal's base of more than 377 million users. Flutterwave will integrate with PayPal, enabling merchants to support transactions from outside the continent.

The connection is designed to improve regulatory and security inconsistencies that have made it harder for PayPal to build a large presence in Africa, reports Yahoo Finance, adding Flutterwave will manage most of those hurdles.

Flutterwave has similar collaborations with Flywire, Visa, Alipay and Worldpay. Flutterwave is also part of Ripple's digital ID initiative.

PayPal campus sign
Bloomberg News

Fintech performer

Web browser Opera has hired former PayPal and WeChat Pay executive Allen Hu to lead Dify, Opera's fintech division.

Hu was regional head of global core payments for PayPal; and earlier in his career was general manager of TenPay, where he launched WeChat Pay, according toFinextra. He has also been general manager of Baidu Pay and a venture partner at Sequoia Capital China.

Launched in February, Dify offers a cashback service and digital wallet, primarily to younger consumers in the EU.

Real-time incentives

DailyPay plans to build an instant reward disbursement portal for HR executives and managers to expedite bonuses and other one-off payouts to workers.

The product, called REWARD, is designed to boost engagement through smaller payments to workers in addition to regular salaries. It is also positioned to accommodate more people working remotely, making a quick digital payment more accessible than an in-person payout or a check.

Remote work has led to myriad changes in payroll as firms and payment processors adjust to decentralized offices and changing work habits. That's created an opportunity for digital payment developers to streamline transactions.

Getting fit

Garmin Pay and Fitbit Pay have found a route to offer services in Ecuador through an integration with payment software firm Quipo.

Banco ProCredit Ecuador is the first bank in the country to support the two payment apps, which allow consumers to add Mastercard functionality to fitness bands from both companies.

Garmin and Fitbit have made similar deals with other banks. Garmin for example, has added ANZ Bank in Australia; and both Fitbit and Garmin have signed BNP Paribas as clients for their payment apps.

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