Visa has introduced new smartphone payment solutions to empower small businesses in emerging markets to accept and send digital payments. These solutions, unveiled on June 30, 2026, allow businesses to operate without extra payment hardware.
The global payments technology company launched these capabilities across its Visa Accept and Visa Direct platforms. This aims to help street vendors, micro-sellers, and online merchants manage transactions more smoothly. It also expands their access to crucial digital financial services.
This development aligns with Ghana's ongoing efforts to boost digital payments and financial inclusion. The country has seen consistent growth in mobile money transactions and digital financial service adoption. Recent data indicates a robust expansion of the digital economy, making such innovations particularly relevant.
Shahebaz Khan, Senior Vice President at Visa for Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, commented on the initiative. He noted that payment efficiency is critical for customer relationships. Khan stated, "We see a future where a single smartphone is all a seller needs to accept any way customers want to pay." He added that this allows businesses to gain insights and operate confidently.
The Visa Accept solution turns a smartphone into a payment terminal. Eligible sellers can receive card payments directly into their Visa debit or prepaid accounts. This happens through their banking applications, meaning merchants get funds almost instantly. Customers can simply tap their cards or use payment links to complete transactions.
Visa's Global SMB Macro Trends Report shows strong digital tool adoption among small and medium-sized businesses. The report indicates that 99 percent of surveyed SMBs already use at least one digital finance tool. Furthermore, 85 percent believe these tools have improved their operations. Visa Accept is currently available in over 25 countries and will soon launch in Ghana. Local partners include Access Bank, OmniBSIC Bank, and Universal Merchant Bank (UMB).
The company also enhanced its Visa Direct platform. Small businesses can now use their smartphones to make near real-time payments to employees, contractors, and suppliers. They can also process customer refunds and send cross-border transfers. These transfers go to eligible cards, bank accounts, and digital wallets.
These innovations are part of Visa's larger plan to make digital payments more accessible for small businesses. This focus is especially on emerging markets where smartphone use is growing among underserved groups. An estimated 530 million of the world's 1.3 billion unbanked adults already use smartphones. Expanding mobile-based payment solutions offers a significant chance to promote financial inclusion and help businesses grow.
Ghana's financial sector stands to benefit immensely from these new tools. Increased digital payment adoption can reduce the reliance on cash, enhancing security and transparency. It also supports the government's digitisation agenda and could contribute to Ghana's economic growth. The widespread availability of smartphones provides a ready base for these solutions.