Nigeria-based United Bank for Africa (UBA) has introduced a Mastercard debit card available via instant-issue at its branches in Cameroon in a new phase of its push to expand debit usage throughout Africa.
The move follows UBA’s rollout in March of the same service in Ghana, supporting its goal to get more customers using debit cards instead of cash for everyday purchases, UBA and Mastercard said in a Friday press release.
“The introduction of the UBA debit Mastercard into the market will enable our customers to carry out their banking transactions in a safer, more convenient and reliable manner,” said Udom Isong, managing director of UBA Cameroon, in the release.
The move to expand debit card access parallels Mastercard’s goal of increasing local merchant acceptance of payment cards in Africa, according to Mastercard.
“In order to drive financial inclusion, we need to ensure all Africans feel confident that their money is secure…with debit cards,” said Omokehinde Adebanjo, Mastercard’s vice president and area business head for West Africa, in the release.
