In a groundbreaking move for the African e-commerce landscape, Flutterwave, the continent’s leading payments technology company, has unveiled a new partnership with American Express. Flutterwave CEO Olugbenga ‘GB’ Agboola announced that the company’s online merchants in Nigeria can now accept American Express payments, marking a significant step in connecting African businesses to the global marketplace.
This collaboration enables American Express Card Members to make direct payments to Nigerian e-commerce businesses through Flutterwave’s platform, whether they hold consumer, business, or corporate cards. The service is set to expand to other African countries, including Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana, and Uganda, shortly.
The integration offers numerous benefits for merchants and consumers. Flutterwave CEO Agboola emphasized the company’s commitment to bridging the gap between Africa and the rest of the world through innovative payment solutions. By incorporating American Express as a payment method, Flutterwave aims to streamline cardholder transactions while enhancing e-commerce businesses’ capabilities using its platform.
For Flutterwave merchants, this partnership opens doors to a new customer base of American Express Card Members within Africa and internationally. This expanded reach includes individual consumers and business and corporate spenders, subject to applicable terms and conditions. The collaboration also strengthens American Express’s global network by increasing the number of locations across Africa where their card members can make purchases.
Shoppers benefit from increased choice in payment methods when transacting with Flutterwave merchants. This added flexibility aligns with Flutterwave’s goal of providing payment options that cater to diverse customer preferences while helping businesses expand their customer bases.
Flutterwave CEO Agboola expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership: “We’re always looking for ways to connect the world to Africa through payments. This collaboration provides American Express cardholders across the globe with more options for where to shop and what to buy.” He further emphasized how this integration will simplify and expedite the payment process for American Express cardholders while improving the experience for e-commerce businesses using Flutterwave.
Briana Wilsey, Vice President and General Manager of Global Network Services EMEA at American Express, echoed Agboola’s sentiments. She highlighted American Express’s ongoing expansion in Africa to provide more excellent payment choices for businesses and consumers. Wilsey noted that the agreement with Flutterwave, a trusted payment provider, allows e-commerce merchants in Nigeria to reach American Express Card Members worldwide. She described the collaboration as a “win-win” situation, as it also increases the number of locations where American Express Card Members can use their cards in Nigeria.
This strategic move by Flutterwave aligns with its mission to enable businesses worldwide to expand their operations in Africa and other emerging markets. The company’s platform facilitates local and cross-border transactions through a single Application Programming Interface (API), simplifying the process for businesses to go global.
Flutterwave’s track record speaks volumes about its impact on the African payments landscape. The company has processed over 630 million transactions exceeding $31 billion, serving global and African customers across various industries. Its ability to connect businesses to diverse local and international payment types has been a critical factor in its success.
As Flutterwave continues to innovate under the leadership of CEO Olugbenga Agboola, this partnership with American Express marks another milestone in the company’s journey to revolutionize payments in Africa. By enabling Nigerian online merchants to accept American Express payments, Flutterwave is expanding payment options for consumers and opening new avenues for African businesses to participate in the global economy.