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KARACHI, June 30,2026: Visa has launched new capabilities under Visa Accept and Visa Direct to help small businesses in emerging markets accept and send digital payments through smartphones.
The new features allow street vendors, micro sellers, and online merchants to manage payments without additional hardware. Visa said the initiative aims to simplify digital transactions and improve financial access for small businesses.
Visa Accept turns a smartphone into a payment terminal. As a result, sellers can accept contactless card payments or payment links directly through their Visa debit or prepaid account using their banking app. They can also receive funds in near real time while benefiting from Visa’s security and dispute protection.
Visa said the solution addresses a key challenge for small businesses, many of which struggle with cash flow. According to its Global SMB Macro Trends Report, one in five surveyed businesses faces cash flow gaps every month, while nearly 28 percent reported difficulties accessing credit.
Meanwhile, Visa Direct enables businesses to send fast digital payouts from the same smartphone. Business owners can pay employees, contractors, suppliers, and drivers, issue customer refunds, or transfer funds across borders to eligible cards, bank accounts, and digital wallets.
Shahebaz Khan, Senior Vice President and Head of Commercial and Money Movement Solutions for Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa at Visa, said the company wants to make smartphones the primary business tool for small merchants.
He said businesses should spend less time dealing with payment challenges and more time serving customers.
Visa added that Visa Accept is already available in more than 25 countries. The service operates with banking partners in Sri Lanka, Guatemala, and Vietnam. It will also launch soon in Kenya and Ghana. The company expects millions of merchants worldwide to use Visa Accept by 2027.
The company noted that rising smartphone adoption presents a major opportunity to expand digital payments. It added that more than 530 million of the world’s unbanked adults already own smartphones, creating strong potential for greater financial inclusion.
