UnionPay and Standard Bank Expand Online Payments Across Nine African Markets

Trade & AfCFTA: UnionPay International and Standard Bank are expanding online payment acceptance across Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The move gives participating merchants another payment option for serving international customers and supporting cross-border e-commerce.

Online Payments Expanded Across Nine African Markets

Announced on 19 August 2026 in Johannesburg, the expansion enables participating merchants to accept online payments made with UnionPay cards. Nearly 900 merchants are already participating in the initiative across Africa.

The deployment covers nine markets in Southern and Eastern Africa: Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

For businesses, the main operational change is at the payment stage. Merchants can process e-commerce transactions in local currency, US dollars, or both, depending on market requirements.

The solution targets a range of businesses, including e-commerce platforms, hotels, tourism operators and retailers serving international customers.

Cross-Border E-Commerce and Payment Infrastructure

The expansion of cross-border e-commerce in Africa comes as businesses increasingly seek customers beyond their domestic markets. Payment infrastructure is a critical part of this process: unavailable or incompatible payment options can interrupt transactions, increase checkout friction and affect conversion.

UnionPay reports approximately 7 million cards issued across Africa. Its network is accepted in 183 countries and regions, including 51 African countries, while UnionPay cards are issued in 85 countries and regions.

For merchants, the partnership adds another payment channel to commercial flows already linked to tourism, international travel, cross-border shopping and regional trade.

Why It Matters

• Trade flows: Merchants gain an additional way to receive payments from international customers without establishing a physical presence in their markets.
• Checkout efficiency: Broader access to international payment options can reduce friction during the online checkout process.
• Regional expansion: Businesses operating across several African markets can use UnionPay acceptance across nine countries, supporting a more consistent digital payment setup.

A New Layer for Regional Trade

The expansion builds on the partnership between UnionPay and Standard Bank announced in 2024. It comes as digital infrastructure becomes increasingly important to the development of intra-African trade.

At regional level, payment connectivity complements other parts of cross-border commerce, including e-commerce platforms, transport, delivery, customs clearance and order management.

For logistics and supply chain operators, smoother digital payments can also support the movement of goods by making online purchasing and cross-border transactions easier to complete.

The UnionPay-Standard Bank expansion strengthens online payment infrastructure in Africa across nine markets. For cross-border e-commerce operators, the immediate impact is broader payment acceptance and easier transactions with regional and international customers.