Visa is using artificial intelligence (AI) systems to identify and target “high-intent” users in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as part of its wider strategy to expand digital payments in one of Africa’s most cash-dependent economies.
The initiative is tied to the rollout of Visa Pay, a mobile-first payments platform designed to connect banks, mobile money operators, and consumers through interoperable digital infrastructure. The system enables users to send and receive money, pay merchants, and conduct online transactions in Congolese francs and U.S. dollars, while integrating with major mobile money services such as Airtel Money, Orange Money, and M-Pesa through partnerships including fintech infrastructure provider Onafriq.
Visa’s AI tools are being used to analyse user behaviour and transaction patterns to identify individuals most likely to adopt digital financial services. These “high-intent” users are typically detected through signals such as frequent mobile money usage, merchant payments, and cross-platform financial activity. The aim is to improve onboarding efficiency, reduce friction in account setup, and increase adoption rates in a market where formal credit data is limited.
At the launch of Visa Pay in Kinshasa in September 2025, Visa’s General Manager for the DRC, Sophie Kafuti, said the platform is designed to expand access to the digital economy by improving interoperability between financial systems. “We are excited to launch Visa Pay, an interoperable solution to scale digital payments in the country,” she said, adding that the platform supports both banked and unbanked users.
Related:
- Visa Prepares Infrastructure for Autonomous AI Shoppers
- Apple to pay $250 million to U.S. iPhone users in AI lawsuit settlement
Industry partners involved in the rollout have described Visa Pay as a step toward improving accessibility, affordability, and convenience in digital payments across the country. The platform is being implemented with several local banks, including Access Banque, UBA, FBN, and Sofibanque, as part of efforts to broaden access to formal financial services.
Analysts note that AI-driven targeting is becoming increasingly important in markets like the DRC, where financial inclusion remains uneven and traditional credit histories are often unavailable. Machine learning models in such environments rely heavily on behavioural data to predict which users are most likely to adopt digital payment tools.
The move reflects Visa’s broader global strategy of embedding AI across its payments ecosystem, including fraud detection, risk management, personalisation, and emerging “agentic commerce” systems where AI agents can initiate transactions on behalf of users under defined conditions.
As competition grows across Africa’s digital payments sector, Visa’s AI-led approach is aimed at strengthening its position against mobile money ecosystems that already dominate everyday transactions. However, the long-term success of the strategy will depend on user trust, regulatory conditions, and the strength of digital infrastructure in a largely cash-based economy.
Senior Reporter/Editor
Bio: Ugochukwu is a freelance journalist and Editor at AIbase.ng, with a strong professional focus on investigative reporting. He holds a degree in Mass Communication and brings extensive experience in news gathering, reporting, and editorial writing. With over a decade of active engagement across diverse news outlets, he contributes in-depth analytical, practical, and expository articles exploring artificial intelligence and its real-world impact. His seasoned newsroom experience and well-established information networks provide AIbase.ng with credible, timely, and high-quality coverage of emerging AI developments.