Mastercard and Smile ID Expand Strategic Collaboration to Accelerate Digital Identity Solutions in Africa
Mastercard has announced an expanded strategic partnership with Smile ID, Africa’s leading identity verification provider, to accelerate the rollout of secure digital identity solutions across the continent. The collaboration aims to empower banks, fintechs, and mobile money operators to onboard new customers faster while reducing identity-related fraud.
Tackling Fraud and Driving Financial Inclusion
With Africa’s digital economy projected to reach $1.5 trillion by 2030, reliable identity solutions are becoming central to advancing financial inclusion, combating fraud, and enabling seamless cross-border commerce. Rising smartphone adoption and increased use of digital channels further heighten the demand for trusted identity systems.
Expanding Access to Financial Services
For more than five decades, Mastercard has worked alongside governments and businesses to strengthen financial inclusion and economic growth in Africa. Through its collaboration with Smile ID, Mastercard is now well-positioned to broaden access to financial services while supporting compliance with “Know Your Customer” (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations.
Long-Term Investment in Smile ID
Reinforcing its commitment to Africa’s digital future, Mastercard has also invested in Smile ID to help build a secure and inclusive digital ecosystem. This investment underlines the company’s long-term focus on innovation and digital inclusion, making customer onboarding and identity management more efficient across the continent.
Advanced Identity Verification Tools
As part of the integration, Mastercard’s partners—including banks, telecom providers, and fintech companies—will gain access to Smile ID’s advanced identity verification technologies. These tools will be embedded into Mastercard’s digital platforms, enabling instant and secure user onboarding, enhanced fraud detection, regulatory compliance, and support for cross-border trade and digital expansion.
Strengthening Digital Trust in Africa
Céline Badré, Executive Vice President for Services in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa at Mastercard, said:
“This collaboration marks an important step toward building digital trust and driving inclusion in Africa. Fragmented identity verification systems slow down business, while Smile ID’s platform helps us advance our mission of creating secure and inclusive digital systems.”
Marc Straub, CEO of Smile ID, added:
“Identity fraud costs banks and lenders millions of dollars each year. By working with Mastercard, we can empower consumers and enable banks and digital wallets to safely onboard over 300 million users in Africa within seconds.”
Related Developments in the Sector
The announcement comes amid a series of regional fintech initiatives involving Mastercard, including:
A three-way collaboration between Amazon, Emirates Islamic, and Mastercard to launch the first Amazon co-branded credit card in the region.
The onboarding of ABHI, a growing fintech, to Mastercard’s Start Path program supporting small businesses.