Dashen Bank Jumps on Board the American Express

Although initially only available for overseas issued cards, Dashen will soon begin providing cards to local customers.

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – Dashen Bank is to begin accepting American Express cards as of July 26, 2014, in addition to MasterCard, VISA and UnionPay. The service will initially only be available to people who have acquired the card from foreign banks.

The Bank’s deal with  the American Express Company has cost a few million dollars, although bank officials declined to say how much. The new deal will enable local and international American Express card holders to access the services of Dashen’s 170 ATMs to withdraw money and 800 POS terminals to make payments at hotels, supermarkets and other stores. Where ATMs are not functioning and where queues are long at the Bank’s branches, card holders can issue a receipt for the amount of money they need from encashment POS terminals available at the Bank’s branches. The Bank gives priority services to clients presenting these receipts, says Estifanos Befekadu, head of the Promotion Division at the Bank.

Read more at: Addis Fortune