_able and Visa collaborate to expand digital lending in Africa and the Middle East

Key facts

• _able announced the collaboration with Visa on September 23, 2026, in Paris, France.
• The collaboration was unveiled at the Visa Payments Forum in Paris.
• It combines _able's lending platform with Visa's Value-Added Services, including Visa Consulting & Analytics (VCA) and Visa Marketing Services.
• The target is financial institutions developing and growing digital lending programs in selected markets in Africa and the Middle East.
• The collaboration is initially focused on CEMEA, with opportunities to expand into additional markets over time.
• Nadeem Juma, CEO and Co-founder of _able, and Walter Lironi, SVP and Head of Value-Added Services CEMEA at Visa, are quoted in the announcement.
• _able is headquartered in Dubai, with an operational hub in Nairobi, a market and innovation hub in Dar es Salaam, and a technology and intelligence hub in Pune.

What did _able and Visa announce?

_able announced a collaboration with Visa on September 23, 2026, to help financial institutions develop and grow digital lending programs across selected markets in Africa and the Middle East. The collaboration was unveiled at the Visa Payments Forum in Paris, France. It brings _able's lending platform together with Visa's Value-Added Services.

What does the _able and Visa collaboration include?

The collaboration pairs _able's lending platform with Visa's Value-Added Services, including Visa Consulting & Analytics (VCA) and Visa Marketing Services. Together they give financial institutions technology, strategic advisory and marketing support intended to accelerate digital lending initiatives.

What problem is the _able and Visa collaboration meant to address?

_able and Visa say demand for digital financial services keeps growing, and many financial institutions want to expand lending through digital channels. They face challenges ranging from program design and portfolio management to customer acquisition and growth. The two companies will work with institutions to explore and scale digital lending programs tailored to local market needs.

What role does _able's lending platform play in the collaboration?

_able's lending platform is at the center of the collaboration with Visa. It helps financial institutions design, launch and manage digital lending programs, and supports areas including credit decisioning, portfolio management and analytics. _able says this helps clients bring new lending products to market more efficiently.

Which markets does the _able and Visa collaboration cover?

The _able and Visa collaboration covers selected markets in Africa and the Middle East. It is initially focused on CEMEA, with opportunities to expand into additional markets over time. The announcement does not list individual countries.

What did the executives say about the collaboration?

• Nadeem Juma, Co-Founder and CEO of _able: "Access to responsible credit remains one of the largest opportunities across emerging markets. By collaborating with Visa, we can help more financial institutions develop and grow digital lending programs through digital channels."
• Walter Lironi, SVP and Head of Value-Added Services CEMEA at Visa: "Financial institutions are looking for practical ways to develop and grow digital financial services. Through this collaboration, we are bringing together capabilities that can help clients assess, develop and grow digital lending programs that are relevant to their business objectives and customer needs."

Who is _able?

_able builds the credit infrastructure connecting capital providers and distribution platforms across emerging markets. Its unified platform combines infrastructure, intelligence and portfolio management, enabling banks, mobile money operators, fintechs, marketplaces and other financial institutions to deploy credit, savings, cards and group finance. _able is headquartered in Dubai, with hubs in Nairobi, Dar es Salaam and Pune.

Who is Visa?

Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) describes itself as a world leader in digital payments, facilitating payments transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Its stated mission is to connect the world through an innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network.

Frequently asked questions

When was the _able and Visa collaboration announced?

_able announced the collaboration with Visa on September 23, 2026, in a press release datelined Paris, France.

Where was the _able and Visa collaboration unveiled?

It was unveiled at the Visa Payments Forum in Paris.

Which Visa services are part of the collaboration?

Visa's Value-Added Services, including Visa Consulting & Analytics (VCA) and Visa Marketing Services.

Is the _able and Visa collaboration limited to certain regions?

It covers selected markets in Africa and the Middle East and is initially focused on CEMEA, with opportunities to expand into additional markets over time.

Who is the _able and Visa collaboration for?

It is for financial institutions looking to develop and grow digital lending programs.

Who can be contacted for media enquiries about the announcement?

The press release lists press@ablegroup.io as the media contact.