Global payments company Visa has named Congolese music star Fally Ipupa as the official brand ambassador for Visa Pay in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, launching a new campaign aimed at expanding awareness and adoption of digital payments.
KINSHASA - September 21, 2026 - Congolese music star Fally Ipupa has been appointed the official brand ambassador for Visa Pay in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, bringing one of the country's most recognizable entertainers into Visa's push to expand digital payments.
Visa announced the partnership during a media event in Kinshasa on September 21. The company said Fally will promote Visa Pay through consumer campaigns, exclusive digital content, public appearances and community-engagement initiatives.
The announcement was distributed by APO Group on behalf of Visa and syndicated by MarketScreener at 12:21 p.m. EDT.
The partnership is a marketing and adoption campaign rather than the launch of a new payment product. Visa Pay has been available in the DRC since September 2025.
Fally Ipupa becomes the face of Visa Pay
Visa says the collaboration will use Fally Ipupa's audience in the DRC, across Africa and in the diaspora to introduce more consumers to digital payments.
Sophie Kafuti, Managing Director of Visa DRC, said the partnership connects technology with the country's creative economy and is intended to help more consumers understand how digital payments can be used in everyday life.
Fally said the partnership reflects his interest in digital innovation and that he hopes to encourage more Congolese consumers to participate in the digital economy.
According to Visa's announcement, the campaign will include digital content, appearances and community initiatives.
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Visa Names Fally Ipupa as Visa Pay Ambassador in DRC
Sep 21, 2026
Sep 21, 2026
5 min read
Published
Updated:
Global payments company Visa has named Congolese music star Fally Ipupa as the official brand ambassador for Visa Pay in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, launching a new campaign aimed at expanding awareness and adoption of digital payments.
KINSHASA - September 21, 2026 - Congolese music star Fally Ipupa has been appointed the official brand ambassador for Visa Pay in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, bringing one of the country's most recognizable entertainers into Visa's push to expand digital payments.
Visa announced the partnership during a media event in Kinshasa on September 21. The company said Fally will promote Visa Pay through consumer campaigns, exclusive digital content, public appearances and community-engagement initiatives.
The announcement was distributed by APO Group on behalf of Visa and syndicated by MarketScreener at 12:21 p.m. EDT.
The partnership is a marketing and adoption campaign rather than the launch of a new payment product. Visa Pay has been available in the DRC since September 2025.
Fally Ipupa becomes the face of Visa Pay
Visa says the collaboration will use Fally Ipupa's audience in the DRC, across Africa and in the diaspora to introduce more consumers to digital payments.
Sophie Kafuti, Managing Director of Visa DRC, said the partnership connects technology with the country's creative economy and is intended to help more consumers understand how digital payments can be used in everyday life.
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Fally said the partnership reflects his interest in digital innovation and that he hopes to encourage more Congolese consumers to participate in the digital economy.
According to Visa's announcement, the campaign will include digital content, appearances and community initiatives.
What is Visa Pay?
Visa Pay is an interoperable digital wallet and mobile-payment service designed for consumers in the DRC.
Visa's official Visa Pay DRC service page says users can send and receive money using eligible mobile numbers, obtain a virtual Visa card and use that card for online shopping and subscription payments.
Users with eligible smartphones can also make contactless payments at compatible terminals.
Visa says the service can be accessed through its dedicated Visa Pay mobile application, while participating financial institutions can integrate Visa Pay functions into their own apps. The service supports wallets in CDF and USD.
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Access Bank, UBA and other banks already connected
Visa says Visa Pay is currently available through Access Bank, Sofibanque, Solidaire Banque and UBA.
Customers using these participating institutions can open a Visa Pay account and receive a digital Visa card through the Visa Pay app.
Trust Merchant Bank (TMB) customers using the Pepele app can access Visa Pay directly through Pepele. Visa says additional financial institutions are currently integrating the platform.
Sending money without bank-account details
One of Visa Pay's main features is mobile-number-based money transfers.
Instead of entering a recipient's bank-account details, users can send money using a registered mobile number or Visa Pay ID. Visa's service page also says transfers can be initiated by scanning a recipient's QR code.
Users can obtain a virtual Visa card without visiting a bank branch and use it for online purchases.
According to Visa, customers can register for Visa Pay without already having a traditional bank account, although full access to transactions requires completion of the platform's identity-verification process.
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Fees and eligibility still matter
Consumers should check the current charges and requirements before using the platform.
Visa's official DRC page currently lists a free virtual Visa card and free e-commerce payments, while some transfers and wallet top-ups carry fees.
The service requires users to be at least 18 years old, and full transaction access requires completion of KYC identity verification. Individual transaction limits are determined by the user's Visa Pay wallet bank, according to Visa.
That means the Fally Ipupa partnership may increase awareness of the service, but customers should still confirm fees, eligibility requirements and limits before choosing how to use it.
Visa is positioning the partnership as part of a wider effort to expand digital payments and financial inclusion in the DRC.
The company says the campaign also supports the Central Bank's ambitions for greater adoption of cashless payments by 2027.
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