O3 Capital launches Blink travel card for easy spending

By Vriti Gothi

O3 Capital, the Nigerian FinTech known as the country’s first non-bank credit card issuer, has launched the Blink Travel Card, a new payment solution aimed at simplifying international travel and holiday spending for returning Nigerians, expatriates, and tourists. The product is positioned to tap into the annual festive-season spending boom, which injected an estimated $65.52 million into the economy in December 2024, largely driven by diasporic Nigerians.

Available in both digital and physical formats, the Blink Card can be instantly issued and funded using any foreign bank card. Funds are converted into naira, enabling cardholders to transact locally through tap-to-pay and cash withdrawals at more than 40 million merchants and ATMs. The virtual version is linked to the O3Cards app, allowing users to pay for goods and services and transfer funds to local banks.

The company frames the product as a means to streamline spending for visitors while reducing reliance on cash and easing friction associated with foreign-exchange access. The cards will be distributed at all Nigerian international airports to enable immediate use upon arrival.

The launch also targets Nigerians in the diaspora who return home during the holiday season—an important period for domestic consumption. With remittance inflows representing approximately 5.6% of Nigeria’s GDP, the seasonal return of the diaspora unlocks significant spending power across accommodation, hospitality, transportation, and entertainment sectors.

Abimbola Pinheiro, Chief Executive Officer of O3 Capital, said, “The new card is designed to remove the ‘needless friction and costs involved in legacy foreign exchange and cash payment processes,’ offering visitors a more transparent way to spend in Nigeria. As Nigerians begin travelling home for Christmas, combined with the regular traffic of arriving tourists, expatriates, and businesspeople, this is the perfect time to launch a solution catering to the financial needs of visitors, tapping into the seasonal spending boom which provides an annual lifeline for local economies and SMEs.”

The Blink Card rollout follows O3 Capital’s broader expansion efforts and builds on the company’s track record of bringing non-bank credit products and international card solutions to market. The company positions the offering as part of its mission to increase financial access and support economic participation across Nigeria.