Africa leading bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) has introduced its first merchant-focused app in Africa with the aim of creating a SMART (secure, mobile, accessible, reliable, transparent) network of 100,000 micro merchants and driving financial inclusion.

The merchant app will include Masterpass QR, a mobile payment solution powered by MasterCard, and is immediately available for download to any feature or smart phone in the country.

In a statement the bank said that: “As a group, we are committed to driving financial inclusion and empowering businesses across Africa. Our partnership with MasterCard enables us to deploy safe digital solutions for customers and the banking public. UBA MasterCard QR Merchant App is another of such solution,” UBA’s Group Head Consumer and Digital Banking, Dr. Yinka Adedeji said.

Dr. Yinka Adedeji added that: “Innovectives, an integrated fintech company and Nigeria’s leading agent network manager will support with technical development and value added services component of the roll-out while Grooming Centre, the leading micro finance institution in the country will provide the micro merchants access to finance.”

“With UBA Masterpass QR Merchant App, business owners are able to receive instant notification of payments in real time, view their current banking statement and get insights about sales trends. These features will help merchants to plan their businesses better thereby enabling easier access to financial support. It also provides micro merchants the ability to offer value added services such as bill payments or airtime top-ups to their customers, thus enabling the merchants to expand their current business model and develop a SMART network of micro merchants that are moving beyond cash.”