Global real-time payment software company ACI Worldwide has announced a strategic partnership with Arab Financial Services (AFS), the leading digital payment solutions provider and financial technology enabler in the region, aiming to revolutionize the digital payment landscape across the entire Middle East and Africa.

Digital Payment in Middle-East & Africa

AFS, regulated by the Central Bank of Bahrain, serves over 60 clients in more than 20 countries across the region, including 37 banks and financial institutions. The company's product portfolio encompasses a range of digital payment products and services, including card processing, merchant acquiring, financial technology solutions, and value-added services.

Santhosh Rao, Senior Vice President of ACI Worldwide MEASA, commented, "Our flexible, agile, and innovative payment software solutions will now be available to banks, financial institutions, and merchants across the region. AFS is now empowered to support all customers in the region in their quest for digital transformation and innovation, while achieving the resilience and service quality required for next-generation payment systems."

Under this transformative 10-year partnership agreement, AFS will leverage ACI's enterprise payment platform, renowned for its security features, flexible cloud-ready architecture, and multi-language, multi-currency capabilities. Through this platform, AFS aims to drive the modernization of the retail banking industry, offering its banking and fintech customers enhanced functionality and greater efficiency.

Streamline Payment Processes

Furthermore, AFS will deploy ACI's payment orchestration platform, a solution designed to streamline merchant payment processes. The platform promises a seamless integration experience through unified API interfaces, maximizing conversion rates while minimizing operational expenses. With this technology adoption, merchants and payment service providers will be able to deliver superior customer experiences characterized by convenience and security.

"With the payment landscape becoming increasingly complex and susceptible to disruption, a reliable technology partner capable of delivering industry-leading solutions is crucial. AFS CEO Samer Soliman stated, "AFS and ACI Worldwide are committed to jointly providing cutting-edge technology to customers, simplifying operations, driving growth, and elevating profitability to new levels."