Latest news with #NetworkInternational
Zawya
3 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Network International enters into strategic partnership with Wio Bank to endorse SME merchants
UAE – Network International has signed a strategic partnership with Wio Bank to offer digital lending solutions for SME merchants in the UAE, according to a press release. As a part of this collaboration, the lending products of the bank will be integrated into Network's platform, an innovative digital merchant lending marketplace designed to simplify and accelerate access to credit for SMEs. The partnership aims to empower SME business owners with faster, more efficient access to credit facilities through an end-to-end digital journey. Eligible merchants can apply for financing online, receive personalized loan offers from Wio Bank based on real-time transaction data from Network and complete the entire process, from loan application to loan disbursement, through a single platform. Group CEO of Network, Murat Cagri Suzer, said: 'At Network International, our focus is on building innovative solutions for our customers. In line with this vision, we have established partnerships with leading banks across the UAE to support the growth of SMEs.' Suzer noted: 'Small businesses transacting through Network International's payment platforms will have easier access to loans through our partnership with Wio Bank. Hence, we're excited to welcome Wio Bank to our platform as a digital lender, offering a lending experience as easy as one-click loans.' From his part, Jayesh Patel, the CEO of Wio Bank, said: 'Our partnership with Network International simplifies access to credit and financial management for SMEs. Our goal is to foster business growth and drive entrepreneurship across the UAE by enabling a stronger ecosystem where businesses can scale with confidence and succeed.' It is worth highlighting that the region-focused Network International and Magnati received key regulatory approvals for a merger process that is projected to close in the third quarter (Q3) of 2025.
Zawya
7 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Network International and Blu Penguin collaborate to enable mobile money transactions in Ghana
Network International (Network) ( a leading enabler of digital commerce across the Middle East and Africa, has announced a collaboration with Blu Penguin, a Ghana-based fintech and mobile money aggregator, to provide mobile money transactions via Network's N-Genius™ payment terminals. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in expanding financial inclusion and driving payment innovation across Ghana and the broader West African region. Through this collaboration, Network's clients in Ghana can now process mobile money payments from all providers using their current N-Genius point-of-sale terminals. This development strengthens Network's role as a third-party payment processor (TPP), broadening its service offerings and demonstrating its commitment to adapting to evolving market needs. Chinwe Uzoho, Regional Managing Director, Western Africa – Processing at Network International, stated, 'This partnership with Blu Penguin reinforces our commitment to advancing digital commerce and financial inclusion. By integrating mobile money transaction capabilities into our N-Genius terminals, we are providing a seamless payment experience that caters to the needs of both banked and unbanked individuals, helping businesses and financial institutions offer greater transaction flexibility.' Sebastian Yalley, Managing Director, Ghana – Processing at Network International, added: 'This collaboration represents a significant advancement for Ghana's payments landscape. It enhances our service offerings for banks by combining the strong mobile money processing capabilities of Blu Penguin with our industry-leading card infrastructure to provide a unified app for merchants to deliver secure, accessible, and convenient payment capabilities.' Through this collaboration, Blu Penguin will integrate its technology with Network International's acquiring infrastructure, ensuring a secure and efficient backend for processing mobile money transactions across major telecom networks. With operations in Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, and DRC Congo, Blu Penguin's mobile-first strategy streamlines transactions, making digital payments more accessible to millions of consumers across the region. Tenu Awoonor, Founder of Blu Penguin, commented, 'This collaboration goes beyond technology integration; it is a strategic effort to improve payment accessibility and convenience for merchants in Africa. By partnering with Network International, we are equipping banks and merchants with the ability to offer multiple payment options in a single app, making transactions more seamless. We get to leverage our respective strengths in a collaborative effort with financial institutions to drive faster adoption and usage of digital payments to support greater financial inclusion in Africa.' The initial phase of the partnership has commenced, and plans are to enable this feature across all financial institutions using Network International's N-Genius™ terminals in Ghana and ultimately Sub-Sahara Africa. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Network International. About Network International: Network International is the Middle East and Africa's largest and leading digital payments company. Our purpose is to help businesses and economies grow by simplifying payments and commerce. We operate in 50+ countries serving governments, banks, fintechs, merchants and public sector companies. We have 2,500+ employees based in our markets serving over 250 financial institutions and 196,000+ merchants. About The Blu Penguin: The Blu Penguin Company Limited is a licensed pan-African fintech firm committed to providing digital payment solutions that cater to the diverse evolving needs of small, medium and large sized enterprises. With a vision to drive financial inclusion in Africa, we provide a comprehensive suite of services designed to enhance and simplify both in-store and online payment collection for merchants. We serve banks, telecom companies, merchants and governments to offer payment services to millions of customers every day.
Zawya
15-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Network International expands SME lending marketplace services with Wio Bank partnership
UAE: Network International (Network), a leading enabler of digital commerce in the Middle East and Africa, has announced a strategic partnership with Wio Bank PJSC, the UAE's leading digital bank, to offer digital lending solutions for SME merchants in the UAE. As a part of this collaboration, Wio Bank's lending products are now integrated into Network's platform, an innovative digital merchant lending marketplace designed to simplify and accelerate access to credit for SMEs. The partnership aims to empower SME business owners with faster, more efficient access to credit facilities through an end-to-end digital journey. Eligible merchants can apply for financing online, receive personalized loan offers from Wio Bank PJSC based on real-time transaction data from Network and complete the entire process, from loan application to loan disbursement, through a single platform. Murat Cagri Suzer, Group Chief Executive Officer at Network International, commented: 'At Network International, our focus is on building innovative solutions for our customers. In line with this vision, we have established partnerships with leading banks across the UAE to support the growth of SMEs. Small businesses transacting through Network International's payment platforms will have easier access to loans through our partnership with Wio Bank. Hence, we're excited to welcome Wio Bank to our platform as a digital lender, offering a lending experience as easy as one-click loans.' Jayesh Patel, CEO of Wio Bank, said: 'Our partnership with Network International simplifies access to credit and financial management for SMEs. Our goal is to foster business growth and drive entrepreneurship across the UAE by enabling a stronger ecosystem where businesses can scale with confidence and succeed.' This partnership strengthens Network's commitment to supporting SMEs with accessible financing and providing comprehensive business tools to merchants while expanding Wio Bank's reach to a broader base of merchants. About Network International Network International is the Middle East and Africa's largest and leading digital payments company. Our purpose is to help businesses and economies grow by simplifying payments and commerce. We operate in 50+ countries serving governments, banks, fintechs, merchants and public sector companies. We have 2,500+ employees based in our markets serving over 250 financial institutions and 196,000+ merchants. About Wio Bank PJSC Wio Bank PJSC, the Middle East's first digital financial platform, is reimagining banking for individuals and businesses. Headquartered in Abu Dhabi and backed by strategic investors including ADQ, Alpha Dhabi, e&, and First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), Wio combines cutting-edge technology with a human-centric approach to deliver seamless, personalised financial solutions. For personal banking, Wio offers smart tools and insights to help users take control of their finances, enabling them to save, spend, and grow with ease. For businesses, Wio goes beyond traditional banking by providing entrepreneurs and SMEs with a comprehensive digital platform designed to streamline operations, unlock growth opportunities, and simplify financial management. Wio is redefining the banking landscape as a market leader in Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) and embedded finance, delivering innovative solutions that empower people, businesses, and communities with the infrastructure they need to access long-term wealth creation. By offering an end-to-end, frictionless digital platform for both retail and business customers, Wio is disrupting traditional banking models, creating operational efficiencies, and unlocking value-added services through a transparent, personalized customer experience. Wio Bank's commitment to innovation has been widely recognized, being named '#1 Fintech in MENA' by Forbes Middle East and 'Digital Bank of the Year' at both the E-Business Awards 2024 and Tech Innovation Awards 2024. The bank has also received 'Best Retail Banking Digital App Experience' award, 'SME Bank of the Year' award, and 'Intelligent Banking and Finance Implementation' award. Additionally, Wio's leadership excellence was acknowledged with inclusion in the Top 34 GCC Banking CEO Power List 2024 by Finance Middle East.
Zawya
14-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Network International, Magnati to expand business in MEA following merger
Network International and Magnati have received key regulatory approvals to merge into a single entity, owned by a Brookfield-led consortium. The merger process is expected to be completed during the third quarter (Q3) of 2025, according to a press release. Both entities will continue to operate as two separate brands for the time being. The merged entity will serve more than 250 financial institutions, 240,000 businesses and over 20 million cardholders across 50 markets in the MEA region. It will provide various offerings, including digital payments, data and insights, small business lending, and advanced fraud and security solutions. With a focus on innovation, scale, and growth, the combined business is well-placed to capitalize on the fast-growing digital payments adoption by both consumers and merchants in the region, including mobile payments, e-commerce and cross border transactions. It will offer an expanded portfolio of products and services, tailored to meet the needs of customers, from SMEs to large enterprises and government agencies. Murat Cagri Suzer, Group CEO of Network International, said: "The combination of Network International and Magnati marks a pivotal moment in shaping the future of fintech in the Middle East and Africa.' 'By combining our scale, talent, deep market expertise, and strong partnerships, we are creating the region's largest and most capable fintech platform serving businesses, keeping payments at the core of our services,' the CEO added. He noted: 'We are poised to unlock long-term growth with innovation and deliver even greater value to our customers, partners and shareholders.'
What's On
13-07-2025
- Business
- What's On
Dubai is going fully cashless and here's what it means for your everyday life
If you love the feel of cold hard cash in your hands, enjoy it while you still can, because Dubai is going fully cashless. That's right, the clink of coins and shuffle of dirham notes is on its way out as the emirate ramps up efforts to make digital payments the norm across every corner of city life. By 2026, Dubai aims for 90% of all transaction, from your shawarma stop to government fees, to be digital. It's all part of the Dubai Cashless Strategy , a sweeping initiative launched in late 2024 to fast-track digital adoption and push the city into the top five most cashless cities in the world by 2033. The upside? Faster transactions, smoother travel, and more convenience for residents and visitors alike. The move is also expected to inject Dhs8 billion annually into Dubai's economy, according to government estimates. Dubai Finance and Network International sign a MoU to support the implementation of the Dubai Cashless Strategy. The transformative initiative aims to position Dubai among the top five cashless cities by 2026. — Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) July 10, 2025 What's already happening A nearly cashless commute Dubai's RTA is already 97% digital in government transactions, with Dhs4.4 billion in digital revenues from 679 million+ rides in 2024 alone . Most recently, metro and tram stations now have cashless Nol top-up machines, reducing transaction time by up to 40%. Tap, ride, repeat Taxis now accept QR-code payments, and free Wi‑Fi across buses and marine stops supports digital integration during commutes . Fintech is fueling the shift Workshops, partnerships, and symposia, including RTA + Visa's 'Fintech Beyond Mobility' event—are fast-tracking AI-powered payment tools and public transport innovation . Why Dubai is embracing a cashless world Faster, smoother experiences — Digital payments mean smoother rides, quicker service at cafés and stores, and convenience for tourists and residents alike. Safer, smarter economy — Less cash handling means lower fraud risk. AI and fintech integration make oversight simpler—plus it encourages innovation. Global relevance — With this strategy, Dubai hopes to crack the top five most cashless cities worldwide by 2033, further embedding the emirate in a digital-first future What comes next? 100% store-wide digital acceptance — Plan includes every shop, restaurant, and stall across Dubai. Palm-vein payments — The next big leap in contactless: paying with your palm, no wallets needed. AI and contactless everywhere — From bus stops to bill payments, Dubai is pushing seamless transactions and AI-based user experiences. So, when will you stop using cash? By 2026, the plan is for nearly every payment, from your metro fare to your oud incense, to be handled digitally. Want to stash or spend your coins before then? We'd suggest a mini-coffer raid but soon, digital will dominate. Dubai is building that seamless, tap-and-go lifestyle that matches its futuristic skyline. And whether you live here or just visit, getting ready for a cashless experience will keep you ahead of the curve. > Sign up for FREE to get exclusive updates that you are interested in
