Absa Bank Botswana has announced the launch of Google Pay, following a strategic partnership with global digital payments leaders, Visa and Google. The platform went live on 17 December 2025, marking another important milestone in Absa’s commitment to ushering customers with innovative, diverse, secure, and convenient payment solutions for customers
Through this partnership, Absa customers can now make secure and convenient payments using Google Pay at any contact Point-of-Sale (POS) terminal, locally and abroad. Google Pay is a digital wallet and mobile payment service developed by Google that enables users to make payments online, in stores, and within apps using their smartphones, tablets, or smartwatches.
Google Pay offers contactless payments at payment terminals, allows online and in-app purchases without entering card details every time. Furthermore, the payment solution is embedded with security features because it uses tokenisation. This means that the actual card number is not shared with the merchant, and further requires device authentication like fingerprint, PIN, or face unlock.
Commenting on this new payment solution, Absa Bank Botswana Acting Retail Director John D’Souza highlighted the significance of the initiative:
“This moment marks another key milestone in our journey to bring convenient, easier and secure banking to the customers we serve. At Absa, we believe that access to financial services is not just about convenience, it’s a catalyst for empowerment and inclusion.”
“At Absa, we understand that behind every transaction is a story and your story matters. It is the foundation of the relationships we build, the services we offer, and the impact we strive to make,” D’Souza concluded.
“As the leading payments provider in Botswana, Visa is thrilled to support this next step in improving the banking and payments experience across the region. Botswana’s payments landscape has been evolving steadily, driven by increased smartphone penetration, growing consumer demand for digital convenience, and a supportive regulatory environment. With more Batswana embracing mobile and contactless payments, the market is primed for innovation, and solutions like Google Pay are a natural progression in this digital transformation.” added Salome Makau, Country Head for Visa Southern Africa.
