Before Interswitch, Flutterwave, and Nala integrated this payment method developed by the American firm Alphabet. 

Interswitch, a Nigerian financial technology startup, has integrated Google Pay into its Interswitch Payment Gateway (IPG) platform, according to a press release issued on Monday, September 11.

“Merchants can now store payment details within Google Wallet. This integration facilitates a smoother checkout process on the Interswitch platform, heightening the user experience. Additionally, the collaboration enables the acceptance of international cards on the Interswitch Payment Gateway, positioning businesses to seamlessly cater to a broader international clientele,” the release reads. 

Interswitch, founded in 2002 by Mitchell Elegbe, became a unicorn in 2019 following the acquisition of 20% of its shares by US giant Visa. It has made a name for itself in the African fintech world, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, it proved to be the alternative of choice for commercial transactions in Nigeria and across the continent.

"By integrating Google Pay into our Payment Gateway, we are empowering businesses to harness the potential of a global customer base while ensuring secure and reliable payments," said Muyiwa Asagba, Managing Director of Digital Commerce and Merchant Acquisition at Interswitch.

Thanks to this integration, "users can simply add their debit and credit cards to the Google Wallet app and feel confident that their financial information is safe and secure when they’re making a purchase or catching a train," says Jenny Cheng, vice president and general manager of Google Wallet. 

Adoni Conrad Quenum