EBANX, a global technology company specializing in payment solutions for emerging markets, has integrated Capitec Pay, South Africa's leading open banking-based, real-time payment method. This integration represents EBANX's first open banking solution outside Brazil and positions the company as one of the first global Payment Service Providers (PSPs) offering Capitec Pay for cross-border e-commerce.
The partnership allows global merchants to provide Capitec Pay to customers in South Africa, targeting verticals like online retail and subscription services including streaming, gaming, and SaaS.
"South Africa stands out as one of Africa's fastest-growing digital markets, with a digital commerce penetration rate of 73% and an expected annual growth rate of 18% through 2027," said Wiza Jalakasi, Director of Africa Expansion at EBANX, citing data from Payments and Commerce Market Intelligence (PCMI) featured in EBANX's study Beyond Borders 2025.
"By integrating Capitec Pay, we are increasing access for over 20 million South African consumers to global digital commerce and enabling merchants to tap into a tech-savvy, mobile-first audience," added Jalakasi.
Capitec Pay reaches 24 million users (57% of South Africa's adult population), including 13 million mobile app users. For context, only 10% of the country's adult population has ever used a credit card, according to the World Bank. EBANX's internal data shows Capitec Pay delivers exceptional performance, with a payment conversion rate above 85%, typically exceeding that of credit cards and most alternative payment methods.
"Our partnership with EBANX marks a significant step in democratizing access to global digital commerce for South Africans," stated Chris Zietsman, Executive Head, Capitec Business Payments. "Capitec Pay was built on the premise of empowering our customers with secure, convenient, and real-time payment options. With EBANX, we are not only extending this commitment to cross-border transactions but also setting a new standard for open banking in the region."
Capitec Pay, launched by Capitec Bank, leverages secure APIs and customer consent mechanisms to initiate real-time payments directly from the user's bank account, without the need for a card or intermediary platform.
It enables instant, frictionless payments through a seamless in-app experience, meeting growing consumer expectations around security, speed, and transparency in online transactions. It further enables subscriptions through its Variable Recurring Payments feature, enabling customers to securely authorize recurring payments.
"Open banking is one of the most transformative trends in financial technology," pointed out Jalakasi. "Capitec Pay stands out for its consumer-first design and technical integrity. EBANX is proud to be at the forefront of bringing this innovation to global merchants. It is a major step in democratizing access to digital services in South Africa and building the infrastructure for inclusive commerce."
With the addition of Capitec Pay, EBANX now offers a comprehensive payment portfolio in South Africa that includes Instant EFTs, debit and credit card payments, and now open banking A2A transfers.
Capitec Pay gives consumers full control over their payment flow. When shopping online, users simply authenticate the transaction through their Capitec banking app, eliminating the need to share sensitive financial information. For merchants, the method reduces fraud risks, improves settlement times, and lowers processing costs compared to traditional card schemes.
The integration will be one of the key highlights at the 8th EBANX Payments Summit, the company's annual event that unites industry leaders, merchants, and partners to explore the future of payments in emerging markets. This year, Chris Zietsman, Executive Head, Capitec Business Payments, will deliver a keynote on the rise of real-time, cardless payments in South Africa. Taking place from September 17 to 20 in Mexico City, the event will also spotlight how localizing the payment experience is critical to unlocking cross-border growth in digital commerce, particularly in high-potential markets.
This integration underscores EBANX's commitment to bridging global businesses with emerging markets through innovative payment solutions, fostering inclusive digital commerce growth in South Africa and beyond.
EBANX is the leading payments platform connecting global businesses to the world's fastest-growing digital markets. Founded in 2012 in Brazil, EBANX was built with a mission to expand access to international digital commerce. Leveraging proprietary technology, deep market expertise, and robust infrastructure, EBANX enables global companies to offer hundreds of local payment methods across Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
Capitec Pay is an open banking-powered A2A payment method developed by Capitec Bank — the largest retail bank in South Africa. It allows consumers to pay online directly from their bank accounts through a secure, consent-based authentication process in the Capitec mobile app. Built on API infrastructure, Capitec Pay enables real-time payments without involving card networks, reducing friction and improving security for both consumers and merchants.
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