African payment technology leader Flutterwave has announced a significant new partnership that enables Nigerian online merchants to accept American Express payments. This strategic integration marks a substantial advancement in cross-border commerce capabilities, with planned expansion to additional markets including Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana, and Uganda.
Under this new arrangement, Flutterwave’s merchant network gains the ability to process transactions from all categories of American Express Card Members, encompassing consumer, business, and corporate cardholders. This development represents a meaningful enhancement in connecting African businesses with global payment networks, facilitating seamless international transactions.
The partnership builds upon Flutterwave’s established market presence, demonstrated by its processing of over 630 million transactions valued at more than USD $31 billion. Through its sophisticated unified API platform, which serves prominent clients including Uber and Air Peace, the company has proven its capability to manage diverse transaction types across multiple sectors of the economy.
This strategic collaboration creates substantial value throughout the digital commerce ecosystem. For merchants operating through Flutterwave’s platform, it provides direct access to American Express’s extensive cardholder network, both within Africa and internationally. Simultaneously, American Express strengthens its African market presence by expanding the locations where cardholders can conduct transactions.
In discussing the partnership, Olugbenga ‘GB’ Agboola, founder and CEO of Flutterwave, emphasized its alignment with their mission to facilitate connections between African and global commerce. He highlighted their commitment to providing merchants with expanded payment options while enabling business growth through enhanced customer reach. The integration particularly benefits e-commerce operations by streamlining payment processes and supporting expansion across both local and international markets.
The arrangement delivers significant advantages for both organizations. For Flutterwave, it reinforces its position as a comprehensive payment solutions provider while enhancing its service portfolio. American Express gains expanded presence in African markets, offering its cardholders broader payment acceptance across the continent.
Briana Wilsey, Vice President and General Manager of Global Network Services EMEA at American Express, characterized the partnership as strategically valuable, noting how it advances American Express’s African expansion while providing enhanced payment options for businesses and consumers. The initiative enables Nigerian e-commerce merchants to connect with American Express cardholders globally while increasing payment acceptance points within Nigeria.
This development represents a significant milestone in African e-commerce capabilities, demonstrating Flutterwave’s ongoing dedication to expanding payment options and facilitating international trade. Through this collaboration, both companies contribute to the evolution of Africa’s digital payment ecosystem while creating new opportunities for merchants and consumers engaged in digital commerce.
