Mastercard has extended its strategic commercial partnership with Smile ID, a leading identity verification provider in Africa, to accelerate the rollout of secure digital identity solutions across the continent.
The expanded partnership is designed to help banks, fintechs, mobile money operators, and enterprises onboard new customers faster while reducing identity fraud and improving access to the financial system. The collaboration combines Mastercard’s global identity technology with Smile ID’s data verification and fraud detection capabilities.
With Africa’s digital economy projected to reach $1.5 trillion by 2030, trusted identity solutions are increasingly viewed as essential to boosting financial inclusion, fraud prevention, and cross-border commerce. Rising smartphone penetration has further underscored the urgency of enabling secure and seamless digital onboarding.
As part of the deal, Mastercard has also made a minority investment in Smile ID, reinforcing its long-term commitment to innovation and digital inclusion in Africa.
“This partnership with Smile ID is a pivotal step in advancing digital trust and inclusion across Africa,” said Selin Bahadirli, Executive Vice President, Services, Mastercard EEMEA. “Smile ID’s innovative identity platform complements Mastercard’s mission to foster secure and inclusive digital ecosystems.”
Through the partnership, Mastercard customers will gain access to Smile ID’s advanced tools, enabling:
- Instant and secure onboarding across African markets.
- Enhanced fraud detection, including synthetic identity fraud.
- Compliance with KYC/AML regulations locally and internationally.
- Scalable cross-border commerce solutions to support digital growth.
Smile ID’s integration with local governments and trusted data sources gives the partnership a unique edge, offering pan-African reach, near real-time verification, and alignment with Mastercard’s insights.
“The surge in synthetic identity fraud in Africa is costing banks and lenders hundreds of millions of dollars a year,” said Mark Straub, CEO of Smile ID. “By joining forces with Mastercard, we can help onboard the next 300 million African users securely, in seconds.”
The partnership is expected to play a vital role in shaping Africa’s digital identity landscape, advancing financial inclusion while supporting compliance and innovation across sectors.
