Africa: Mastercard and Scale Partner to Accelerate Fintech Expansion in Africa and the Middle East

Mastercard has partnered with Scale, an issuer orchestration specialist, to streamline and accelerate market entry for fintech companies across Africa and the Middle East. This strategic collaboration is designed to address the key technical and commercial hurdles that fintechs, aggregators, enablers, payment service providers (PSPs), and telecom operators face when launching payment programs in the region. By allowing these companies to focus on their core business activities, the partnership aims to bring new products and services to market more efficiently.

The alliance between Mastercard and Scale will provide critical support to fintech firms and other ecosystem participants in securing Bank Identification Number (BIN) sponsorships, developing sustainable unit economics, designing and launching card and other payment programs, assessing profitability models, and delivering superior customer experiences. Moreover, the partnership is set to foster the co-creation of inclusive value propositions that are built for long-term growth.

Commenting on the partnership, Amnah Ajmal, Executive Vice President, Market Development for Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EEMEA) at Mastercard, said, “Mastercard is deeply committed to working with local ecosystem players to drive the growth of innovative payment solutions across the region. Our aim is to bridge the digital divide, enhance financial inclusion, and improve access to financial services. With its extensive knowledge of the fintech landscape, Scale is the ideal partner to help us achieve these goals.”

Miranda Perumal, Co-Founder & CEO of Scale, added, “Fintech companies operate at a fast pace and require commercially viable partnerships with experienced firms that understand the needs of a cost-sensitive market. Through our partnership with Mastercard, we are addressing a major pain point by providing a single point of contact and simplifying the process of securing a bank BIN sponsor, third-party processor, and other payment solution providers. This streamlined ecosystem service allows fintech players to concentrate on their core business while we handle the complexities of enabling payments and supporting the growth of their programs to achieve faster revenue generation.”

As this collaboration develops, it will evolve into a comprehensive technology solution, enabling any tech company to acquire Mastercard issuing capabilities through Scale. Mastercard will integrate its managed services into the partners’ systems, overseeing the complete end-to-end implementation of their card programs. Following the launch, Scale will assist partners in expanding their portfolios, driving revenue growth, and achieving profitability by offering insights into consumer behavior, market trends, and competitive strategies.