Orange Cameroun, partners flag off virtual Orange Money Mastercard.

The innovation which marks a major leap in Cameroon's digital payments and financial inclusion drive was unveiled to the general public on Wednesday, January 28, 2026.

This was during a press conference held in Douala. It saw the presence of executives from the three partner institutions, industry stakeholders, and members of the media among others.

The press conference featured contributions from the Director General of Orange Money Cameroun, William Nlembe; the Regional Director for Mastercard Francophone Africa, Mohamed Benomar; Managing Director of Access Bank Cameroon, Ellis Asu; Program Management Officer and lead on the OM Mastercard project; Cynthia Koupwa, and Senior Manager for Marketing and Commercial, Mara Massot, who unveiled the key consumer benefits of the new virtual card.

Speaking during the launch, the Director of Orange Money, William Nlembe, described the innovation as a response to the challenge of limited access to international online payments in Cameroon.

“In today’s digital world, access to international payments remains a challenge for many Cameroonians. As a leader in electronic financial services, we believe our millions of customers should be able to purchase goods and services worldwide in a simple and secure manner,” Nlembe said.

He explained that the OM Mastercard allows users to make online payments 24 hours a day, seven days a week, directly from their Orange Money accounts, in line with the strictest international security standards.

According to him, the solution opens new opportunities in three major areas including education, professional productivity, and digital entertainment, particularly for young people who make up a large proportion of Cameroon’s population.

Nlembe noted that the service is available exclusively via Orange’s all in one mobile app, 'Max it', and it is a fully digital, instantly generated virtual card that enables Orange Money users to carry out secure online payments locally and internationally.

He said a user can create their personalised master card at a competitive cost of FCFA 2,500 per year, making it one of the most affordable virtual cards on the market.

Once activated, the card can be recharged at any time from the user’s Orange Money wallet and used for a wide range of online transactions including e-commerce, subscriptions, travel reservations, online training, school fees, gaming, and digital advertising amongst others 

“There is no physical card, no risk of loss, and full digital management via smartphone,” Orange Money officials noted, adding that funds can also be transferred back from the card to the Orange Money wallet when needed.

Partners comment…

Going by the Managing Director of Access Bank Cameroon, Ellis Asu, the OM Mastercard goes beyond convenience to address structural barriers to participation in the digital economy.

He said the solution is transformational, adding that many people have been left out of the digital economy, especially those in the informal sector which constitute the bulk of the economic fabric. 

However, he went on to noted that: "With this partnership, we are unlocking access to global platforms in a simple, reliable and secure way”.

Asu stressed that the initiative will help students, small traders, entrepreneurs and professionals make international payments that were previously difficult or inaccessible, while laying the foundation for future value-added services such as credit and digital financial solutions.

Access Bank plays a vital role as it brings its international banking expertise to the partnership, ensuring smooth processing of cross-border transactions.

Mastercard’s global network, security

Speaking on behalf of Mastercard, Mohamed Benomar, Regional Director for Francophone Africa, highlighted the importance of security and global acceptance.

“Mastercard is present in more than 210 countries and territories. Through this partnership, Cameroonians now have access to a secure international payment network. Security is our core business, and we are bringing our global technological expertise together with the local market knowledge of Orange Money and Access Bank,” Benomar said.

Moving forward, he said Cameroon’s youthful and digitally connected population made it a strategic market for the launch of such an innovation.

As part of the launch, Orange Money announced special promotional offers aligned with Mastercard’s long-standing partnership with the UEFA Champions League.

It was said, Customers who obtain and actively use the OM Mastercard or participate in a referral challenge stand the chance to win all-expenses-paid trips to Europe to watch the semi-final or final of the UEFA Champions League 2026, through a transparent draw process. 

It should be noted that, with over 10 million Orange Money accounts, more than 150,000 partner merchants, and hundreds of thousands of jobs supported directly and indirectly, Orange Money continues to play a central role in deepening financial inclusion across the country.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3689 of Friday January 30, 2026