American Express and Ecobank Group have announced an agreement to significantly expand American Express Card acceptance in twenty-one countries across Africa.

Through this agreement, American Express card members will be able to use their Cards in 12 new countries: Burundi, Central African Republic, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Niger, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, and Togo.

Additionally, the number of merchants accepting American Express Card payments will increase in nine further countries where American Express acceptance already exists: Cape Verde, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Nigeria, the Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.  Acceptance in these countries will be rolled out over the next 12 months. 

Ecobank will also provide ATM acceptance for American Express in all countries where they operate in Africa (except Cape Verde).

The agreement, which was announced at the African Development Bank Group Annual Meetings 2024, will strengthen the American Express global network by increasing the number of locations where American Express Card Members can use their Cards in sub-Saharan Africa.

The agreement will also enable merchants to attract business from a new customer base of American Express consumers, business and corporate Card Members in Africa and around the world.

"We are delighted to welcome American Express to our network, reinforcing our commitment to offering innovative payment solutions to customers across Africa,” said Jeremy Awori, CEO of Ecobank Group.

"This agreement will benefit American Express Card Members, providing them with greater choice and will help merchants to grow their businesses. It also highlights the scalability of Ecobank’s unrivalled borderless banking ecosystem and network across Africa."

Mohammed Badi, President of Global Network Services at American Express, commented: “This agreement with Ecobank is a major milestone for American Express acceptance across Africa as it will expand our presence in sub-Saharan Africa to 42 countries from 30 at present.

"With Ecobank’s support, we look forward to providing merchants in these countries access to higher-spending American Express Card Members both in Africa and from around the world.” 

This collaboration aligns with Ecobank’s Growth, Transformation and Returns strategic agenda.

Ecobank is committed to offering its retail customers innovative and easy-to-use financial solutions through its unified banking platform across Africa.