In a landmark development for East Africa's financial sector,  SanuPay , a UAE-based licensed, next-generation third-party payment processor, has partnered with OpenWay , a global leader in digital payments software, to launch Ethiopia's first national credit card . This rollout marks a milestone in the country's evolution toward a formalized and digital financial infrastructure.

The new credit card ecosystem is powered by OpenWay’s Way4 platform , which provides end-to-end solutions for issuance, acquiring, switching, and mobile wallets. SanuPay will issue 4 million debit and prepaid cards and 5,000 Visa and Mastercard credit cards , while operating 10,000 point-of-sale terminals and 200 ATMs nationwide, all powered by Way4. The first domestic credit cards are expected to be issued by Oromia Bank , which also plans to introduce a co-branded loyalty card with Sheba Miles .

The infrastructure for this national rollout is supported by SantimPay , a payment system operator licensed by the National Bank of Ethiopia. With a mission to build a cashless and connected economy, SantimPay ensures that local transaction switching and processing are secure, efficient, and compliant.

SanuPay's ambitions extend regionally. In Kenya , the company is collaborating with regional banks and fintechs to modernize card processing, remittances, and cross-border payments . In Rwanda , SanuPay will give fintechs tools to issue virtual cards , implement tokenization , launch digital wallets , and integrate mobile payments .

OpenWay's Way4 platform has already proven its effectiveness in Africa through partnerships with institutions such as Equity Bank . Its modular design and no-code configurability (95% of features can be deployed without custom development) make it ideal for fast-moving markets.

“We have chosen the best solution to provide the best payment services in Ethiopia,” said Alfred Gachaga, CEO of SanuPay . “The partnership with OpenWay and the deployment of Way4 enables us to build a resilient, scalable and compliant infrastructure that supports Africa’s digital financial transformation.”

“This collaboration with SanuPay reflects our commitment to strengthening innovative financial institutions across Africa,” said Hermann Mike , Regional Director for Sub-Saharan Africa at OpenWay . “Way4 enables Ethiopia to issue its first national credit card while laying the foundation for a modern, inclusive, and interoperable payments landscape.”