SanuPay and OpenWay Launch Ethiopia's First Domestic Credit Card

SanuPay, a UAE-based payment processor, has collaborated with OpenWay to introduce Ethiopia's first locally issued credit card. The credit card infrastructure is built on OpenWay's Way4 platform, which offers card issuance, transaction acquiring, system switching, and the management of mobile wallets. The project encompasses the distribution of four million debit and prepaid cards, in addition to 5,000 credit cards bearing the Visa and Mastercard insignia, and the installation of 10,000 POS terminals and 200 ATMs across Ethiopia.

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, July 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In a significant milestone for Ethiopia's financial sector, SanuPay, a UAE-based payment processor, has partnered with OpenWay, a global leader in digital payments software, to launch the country's first domestic credit card. This initiative marks a pivotal shift towards a formalized and digitally enabled financial infrastructure.

The new credit card ecosystem is powered by the Way4 platform from OpenWay, which provides end-to-end solutions for issuing, acquiring, switching, and managing mobile wallets. SanuPay will issue four million debit and prepaid cards, along with 5,000 Visa and Mastercard credit cards, while operating 10,000 point-of-sale (POS) terminals and 200 ATMs nationwide, all running on 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.

SantimPay, a licensed payment system operator under the National Bank of Ethiopia, has supported the launch with infrastructure. With a mission to build a cashless and connected economy, SantimPay ensures local transaction switching and processing is secure, efficient, and compliant.

Beyond Ethiopia, SanuPay is pursuing opportunities to enhance financial services in the East African region. In Kenya, the company is collaborating with regional banks and fintech firms to modernize card processing, remittances, and cross-border payment processes. In Rwanda, SanuPay will empower fintech entities with 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 configurability without coding—95% of functionality can be deployed without custom development—make it ideal for rapidly evolving markets.

"We have selected the best-in-class solution to provide best-in-class payment services in Ethiopia," said Alfred Gachaga, CEO at SanuPay. "Partnering with OpenWay and deploying Way4 enables a resilient, scalable, and compliant infrastructure that supports Africa's digital financial transformation."

"This collaboration with SanuPay reflects our commitment to empowering innovative financial institutions across Africa," said Hermann Mike, Regional Director, Sub-Saharan Africa, at OpenWay. "Way4 enables Ethiopia's first domestic credit card while laying the foundation for a modern, inclusive, and interoperable payments landscape."

This initiative represents a replicable model for regional fintech growth—homegrown, scalable, and ready to shape Africa's next-generation payments ecosystem.

References:
[1] https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ethiopia-to-launch-its-first-domestic-credit-card-powered-by-openway-and-sanupay-302508718.html
[2] https://www.electronicpaymentsinternational.com/news/ethiopia-domestic-credit-card-sanupay-openway/
[3] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ethiopia-launch-first-domestic-credit-090000457.html