In a major step for Ethiopia’s digital payments industry, Premier Switch Solutions S.C. (PSS) has become the first company in the country to be officially approved by Visa for card personalization services. This means PSS can now securely prepare and personalize Visa-branded payment cards for banks and financial institutions, placing Ethiopia on the global map of trusted digital payment providers.
The approval came after a rigorous inspection and evaluation process by Visa, which looked at PSS’s technology systems, infrastructure, data security, and operational procedures. PSS is now recognized as a PCI-compliant provider, meeting the highest international standards for card data preparation, personalization, and distribution.
- Over 8.1 million cards already personalized and distributed across Ethiopia
- Now part of Visa’s global network of trusted vendors
- Ready to scale services globally from its Ethiopian base
This certification is a significant milestone not only for PSS but for the entire Ethiopian financial sector. It shows that local companies can meet the demanding global standards needed to support safe, reliable, and scalable digital payment solutions. It also opens the door for more financial institutions in Ethiopia to issue Visa cards locally, reducing dependency on foreign vendors and speeding up card delivery.
Founded in 2011, PSS is a technology company jointly owned by several Ethiopian banks, including Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, Awash Bank, Dashen Bank, and others. The company provides shared payment infrastructure such as ATM and POS switching, mobile banking integration, and card services to its member banks.
PSS plays a central role in Ethiopia’s digital finance ecosystem, working to ensure secure, efficient, and inclusive payment systems. This new Visa approval strengthens its position as a key player in advancing financial inclusion and innovation in Ethiopia and beyond.
