Seen Here: Mr Bill Blackie, CE for Business & Commercial Banking, Standard Bank Group Photo Credit: Supplied
JOHANNESBURG — 19 August 2026 — African businesses are set to gain greater access to international consumers following the expansion of a partnership between Standard Bank Group and UnionPay International (UPI) to enable UnionPay e-commerce acceptance across nine African markets.
The expanded capability allows participating online merchants to accept secure digital payments from UnionPay cardholders, creating new opportunities for businesses to reach international travellers, cross-border shoppers and customers trading across African markets.
The initiative extends UnionPay e-commerce acceptance to merchants in Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe, with nearly 900 participating merchants across the continent.
The development comes as African businesses increasingly look beyond their domestic markets for growth, driven by the expansion of e-commerce, tourism, travel and regional trade.
Unlocking cross-border demand
For merchants, the ability to accept internationally recognised payment methods can play an important role in converting online interest into completed transactions.
By offering UnionPay as an additional payment option, businesses can reduce checkout friction and provide greater convenience to consumers who already use the network.
The solution also enables participating merchants to process e-commerce transactions in local currency, US dollars or both, depending on individual market requirements.
This flexibility could be particularly relevant to businesses operating in sectors where international customers form an important part of their revenue base, including hospitality, tourism, retail and online commerce.
The expansion builds on a collaboration between Standard Bank and UnionPay announced in 2024 and strengthens the institutions’ efforts to connect African businesses with international payment networks.
Connecting African businesses to global consumers
UnionPay has a substantial international footprint, with cards accepted in 183 countries and regions, including 51 African countries. The network’s cards are issued across 85 countries and regions, while approximately 7 million UnionPay cards have been issued in Africa.
For African merchants, this creates another channel through which they can potentially access consumers travelling, shopping and doing business across borders.
The opportunity extends beyond international visitors.
As intra-African trade continues to develop, businesses increasingly need payment infrastructure capable of supporting transactions that cross national boundaries.
Standard Bank’s presence across the continent gives the initiative a regional dimension, allowing the expanded payment acceptance capability to be deployed across multiple African markets while remaining relevant to local merchants.
Bill Blackie, Chief Executive for Business and Commercial Banking at Standard Bank Group, said international payment acceptance is becoming increasingly important as African businesses expand beyond their home markets.
“African businesses are increasingly selling beyond their domestic markets and the ability to accept trusted international payment methods is becoming essential to that growth.”
Blackie said the expanded UnionPay acceptance capability would help merchants reduce payment friction, reach more customers and participate more effectively in cross-border digital commerce.
He added that the partnership reflects Standard Bank’s commitment to using its African footprint and digital capabilities to unlock practical growth opportunities for businesses across the continent.
Seen Here: Mr Feng Chen General Manager at UnionPay International Africa Branch Photo Credit: Supplied
Payment choice becomes a competitive advantage
For online businesses, the checkout experience can have a direct impact on whether a prospective customer completes a purchase.
Limited payment options, unfamiliar payment processes or difficulties with international transactions can create barriers for consumers, particularly when they are shopping from outside the merchant’s home market.
The Standard Bank-UnionPay expansion addresses part of this challenge by giving participating merchants access to another established international payment network.
The initiative is expected to benefit a broad range of businesses, particularly hospitality and tourism operators, retailers and e-commerce platforms.
For these businesses, international payment acceptance can support efforts to attract and retain customers while providing a more seamless digital transaction experience.
The use of recognised authentication standards also aims to strengthen confidence in online payments and contribute to safer digital commerce.
Strengthening Africa’s digital commerce ecosystem
The partnership comes at a time when digital commerce is becoming increasingly important to the way African businesses connect with customers.
Mobile connectivity, digital platforms and changing consumer behaviour are creating opportunities for businesses to sell beyond traditional geographic boundaries.
However, the growth of digital commerce depends not only on access to customers but also on reliable payment infrastructure.
The Standard Bank and UnionPay initiative illustrates how financial institutions and payment networks can work together to address that requirement by connecting local merchants to international payment flows.
Feng Chen, General Manager at UnionPay International Africa Branch, said the organisation is focused on expanding the reach and usability of its payment network across Africa.
The collaboration with Standard Bank, he said, would allow more merchants to accept UnionPay online while giving cardholders greater choice and convenience when transacting with African businesses.
From local markets to a connected African marketplace
The significance of the expansion extends beyond simply adding another payment option.
For African businesses, the ability to transact seamlessly with customers in other countries can support a broader shift towards regional and international growth.
A retailer in one market can potentially serve customers travelling from another. A hotel can accommodate international visitors before they arrive. An online platform can broaden its customer base beyond its domestic market.
At the same time, businesses involved in regional trade can benefit from payment infrastructure that is designed to accommodate cross-border commerce.
With Standard Bank operating across a substantial African footprint and UnionPay providing access to an extensive international card network, the partnership brings together two networks with complementary reach.
The result is a payment proposition designed to help African businesses participate more effectively in an increasingly interconnected digital economy.
A platform for the next phase of African commerce
The expansion of UnionPay e-commerce acceptance across nine African markets represents another step in the development of the continent’s digital payment ecosystem.
For merchants, the opportunity is ultimately about more than accepting payments. It is about removing barriers between African businesses and the customers they want to reach.
As e-commerce, tourism, regional trade and cross-border consumption continue to evolve, payment choice and reliability will become increasingly important components of business competitiveness.
By connecting nearly 900 participating merchants to UnionPay’s international cardholder base, Standard Bank and UnionPay are positioning the partnership to support that next phase of growth.
For Africa’s increasingly outward-looking businesses, the message is clear: the digital marketplace is getting bigger — and the ability to accept customers from beyond your borders is becoming an essential part of competing in it.
