In a significant development for African e-commerce, Flutterwave CEO Olugbenga ‘GB’ Agboola has unveiled a groundbreaking partnership enabling Nigerian online merchants to accept American Express payments. This strategic collaboration marks a crucial milestone in Flutterwave’s mission to enhance cross-border trading capabilities across the continent.

The initiative, announced on August 20, 2024, allows American Express cardholders – whether they hold consumer, business, or corporate cards – to make direct payments to e-commerce businesses in Nigeria through Flutterwave’s payment infrastructure. The Flutterwave CEO emphasized that this partnership represents a significant step forward in connecting global consumers with African merchants.

“At Flutterwave, we’re always looking for ways to connect the world to Africa through payments,” stated Flutterwave CEO Agboola. “By offering American Express as a payment method, we’re making transactions faster and simpler for cardholders while improving the experience for e-commerce businesses using our platform.”

The partnership’s scope extends beyond Nigeria’s borders, with plans to implement the service in Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana, and Uganda in the near future. This expansion aligns with Flutterwave’s broader strategy of strengthening its presence across African markets and facilitating seamless international transactions.

Briana Wilsey, Vice President and General Manager of Global Network Services EMEA at American Express, described the collaboration as mutually beneficial, noting that it simultaneously expands payment options for Nigerian merchants while increasing American Express’s footprint in Africa. “Through the agreement with Flutterwave, a trusted payment provider, we are giving e-commerce merchants in Nigeria the opportunity to reach American Express Card Members around the world,” Wilsey explained.

The partnership offers several key advantages for both merchants and consumers. Nigerian businesses gain access to a new customer base of American Express cardholders from both Africa and worldwide, potentially increasing their market reach and revenue opportunities. For shoppers, the integration provides additional payment flexibility when transacting with Flutterwave merchants, enhancing the overall shopping experience.

This development follows Flutterwave’s recent achievements in expanding its African presence. The company secured a Payment Service Provider license (Enhanced Category) from the Bank of Ghana on August 1, 2024, enabling independent operations without third-party services. This license, coupled with the company’s expansion into Mozambique in May 2024, demonstrates Flutterwave’s commitment to strengthening its pan-African payment infrastructure.

The company’s track record speaks to its significant impact on African fintech, having processed over 630 million transactions exceeding USD $31 billion. Flutterwave’s platform serves various high-profile clients, including Uber and Air Peace, through a single API that supports multiple transaction types.

This American Express integration represents another strategic move in Flutterwave’s mission to simplify and accelerate cross-border payments. The partnership particularly benefits e-commerce businesses, offering them enhanced capabilities to serve international customers while maintaining local operations. “This initiative ensures that more people across the world can pay using Flutterwave in Africa,” added Agboola, highlighting the company’s commitment to bridging global payment gaps.

The collaboration arrives at a time when American Express is actively expanding its African presence, having introduced four new credit cards in Nigeria in May 2024. This synchronized expansion of both companies’ services suggests a carefully planned approach to enhancing payment accessibility in African markets.

As Flutterwave continues to evolve and expand its service offerings, this partnership with American Express marks another significant step in its journey to revolutionize payment systems across Africa. The integration not only strengthens Flutterwave’s position as a leading payment technology provider but also reinforces its role in facilitating global commerce through innovative financial solutions.