Onafriq, previously known as MFS Africa, has chosen Alviere to enable payments and remittances from the United States to Africa. Onafriq connects various payment schemes with more than 500 million mobile wallets, over 200 million bank accounts, and 400 thousand small medium businesses in its network across Africa’s fast-growing yet fragmented payments ecosystem.
Cross-border payments are a critical lifeline for many African families and merchants, and Onafriq has made enabling financial access across borders a core part of the company mission. According to the World Bank, remittance flows to sub-Saharan Africa alone reached $53 billion in 2022, demonstrating the persistent role of immigrants in the financial well-being of friends and family living in their home countries. Payment solutions provided by companies like Onafriq and Alviere are transforming traditional financial services and providing access to economic opportunities across the continent. This dovetails perfectly with the missions of Alviere and Onafriq to provide critical access to financial services.
Onafriq selected Alviere for its breadth of solutions, technical expertise and sound approach to regulation and compliance. Alviere is uniquely positioned among embedded finance providers to enable cross-border payments from the United States as a licensed money transmitter throughout the U.S. and its territories. Onafriq will leverage the Alviere HIVE platform and regulatory framework for processing payments originating from the U.S. and its territories in strict compliance with Anti-Money Laundering (AML), sanctions, and fraud standards for U.S. financial institutions. This creates a seamless, safe, and secure experience for customers.
“We are proud to be a key part of the global effort to make sending a cross border payment as easy and as simple as making a phone call,” says Dare Okoudjou, the founder and CEO of Onafriq. “With Alviere’s technology and regulatory coverage, and our extensive footprint across the continent, we will enable fast and secure remittances while facilitating financial access and economic prosperity for Africans.”
Alviere co-founder and CEO, Pedro Silva, adds, “Onafriq is uniquely positioned to be a global leader in fintech, revolutionizing cross-border payments throughout the African diaspora. We’re proud to be partnering with Dare and his team, our joint focus is to enhance financial access for all people regardless of borders, history, or current means. Together, Onafriq and Alviere will enable a variety of efficient, competitive payment options for millions of consumers.”
