Standard Bank Group and UnionPay International are expanding e-commerce payment acceptance across nine African markets as merchants increasingly look beyond domestic customers for growth.

The partnership will allow participating online businesses to accept secure UnionPay payments, widening access to international shoppers, travelers and companies involved in cross-border trade.

The expansion builds on a collaboration announced in 2024 and covers Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Nearly 900 merchants across the continent are participating.

“African businesses are increasingly selling beyond their domestic markets and the ability to accept trusted international payment methods is becoming essential to that growth,” said Bill Blackie, chief executive for business and commercial banking at Standard Bank.

The service also supports internationally recognized authentication standards, which Standard Bank said can help improve the online checkout experience and strengthen confidence in digital transactions.

UnionPay builds African payment footprint

UnionPay, also known as China UnionPay or UPI internationally, was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in Shanghai. It operates China’s primary interbank card network and has expanded its international reach to more than 180 countries and regions.

The company has about 7 million UnionPay cards issued across Africa, giving merchants an additional channel to reach consumers traveling, trading and shopping across borders.

For African businesses, wider online payment acceptance could help improve customer conversion and make it easier to participate in the continent’s growing digital economy.

Standard Bank pushes Pan-African growth

Standard Bank Group, Africa’s largest financial services organization by total assets, has operated for more than 160 years and has a presence in more than 20 sub-Saharan African countries.

Led by Group Chief Executive Sim Tshabalala, the lender continues to invest in technology and its pan-African banking franchise as part of its 2028 strategy.

The bank’s African expansion also extends into fintech. Standard Bank Group is considering buying a stake in Nigerian fintech company OPay as the payments firm prepares for a possible U.S. initial public offering that could value it at about $4 billion.

The UnionPay partnership adds another layer to Standard Bank’s strategy of connecting African businesses with international customers, payments networks and regional trade opportunities.