Mastercard and Congolese fintech company Flash have announced a strategic collaboration aimed at expanding access to secure and convenient digital payment solutions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The partnership will enable Flash to issue both physical and virtual prepaid cards, extending its services beyond payment aggregation and allowing users to make transactions online and at point-of-sale terminals.
The initiative represents a major milestone for digital financial inclusion in the DRC, a nation of more than 100 million people where demand for accessible financial services continues to rise. Through the integration of Mastercard prepaid cards into FlashApp, users will gain access to the security and global acceptance of Mastercard’s payment network while complementing the platform’s existing services.
“Partnering with Mastercard is a defining step in Flash’s mission to modernize payments infrastructure in Central Africa. This collaboration allows us to bridge cash and digital economies at scale, unlocking access to card-based financial services for millions of users who have historically been excluded. It’s about building rails for the next generation of financial inclusion,” said Jonathan Johannesen, Chief Executive Officer of Flash.
Flash currently serves more than three million customers through a network of 4,000 agents and 160 agencies spread across the DRC and the Republic of Congo.
Its proprietary super app, FlashApp, which is available on Google Play and the App Store, offers more than 27 financial services, including mobile money, remittances, merchant payments and bill payments. The introduction of Mastercard prepaid cards is expected to further strengthen this ecosystem by enabling users to make both online and in-store purchases, helping bridge the divide between cash-based and digital economies.
Commenting on the collaboration, Mohamed Benomar, Mastercard’s Country Manager for North West Africa, said the partnership underscores the company’s commitment to broadening access to secure and inclusive digital payment solutions in the DRC.
“This collaboration with Flash reflects Mastercard’s continued commitment to expanding access to secure and inclusive digital payment solutions across the DRC. By combining Flash’s strong local presence with Mastercard’s global network, the collaboration aims to enable more people and businesses to participate confidently in the digital economy and support the country’s ongoing financial inclusion journey,” he said.
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