Visa, _able and Onafriq deploy Visa Flex Credential in CEMEA

Visa has formed a partnership with credit infrastructure provider _able and payments firm Onafriq to deploy Visa Flex Credential across Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The arrangement lets banks and card issuers add credit to existing debit and prepaid cards.

Visa Flex Credential links multiple funding sources to a single card credential. Lenders can attach short‑term loans or revolving credit to already‑issued debit and prepaid cards so customers do not need a separate card or account to use credit at the point of sale.

_able will provide the credit enablement platform. Onafriq will manage payment processing for eligible prepaid implementations and connect participating banks to its pan‑African payments network. Visa supplies the payment technology and global network.

The partners say the packaged solution reduces integration work for issuers by combining payment technology, processing and digital credit infrastructure, which can speed pilots and scaling of credit offers tied to existing accounts.

The product targets markets where debit and prepaid card use has grown while formal credit access remains limited. Issuers can use existing customer relationships and credentials to offer small loans or lines of credit without requiring new account openings or standalone credit cards.

Godfrey Sullivan, senior vice president and head of products and solutions, CEMEA at Visa, commented: “Through collaborations with innovative ecosystem partners such as _able and Onafriq, we are helping issuers explore new ways to broaden access to financial services and meet the evolving needs of consumers across the region.”

The rollout covers Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa, with operational emphasis on integrating prepaid implementations in African markets via Onafriq’s infrastructure. Visa Flex Credential supports multiple funding sources and digital workflows to enable credit features on existing payment credentials.