Montran launches Africa unit to support payment modernisation

By Vriti Gothi

Montran has launched Montran Africa, establishing a regional headquarters in Nairobi as it deepens its operational presence across the continent and aligns more closely with Africa’s evolving financial infrastructure needs.

The new entity formalises Montran’s long-standing engagement with African central banks, financial institutions and market infrastructures, positioning Kenya as a regional hub for client engagement, implementation support and product development. The move comes as African markets accelerate efforts around payment modernisation, real-time settlement, and cross-border financial integration.

The launch event in Nairobi was attended by representatives from central banks, regulators and financial institutions from across Africa, reflecting the strategic importance of the region to global financial infrastructure providers.

“Africa is experiencing one of the most exciting transformations in global finance,” said Alexander Esca, CEO of Montran. “The launch of Montran Africa reflects our enduring commitment to the continent. We have long been part of Africa’s financial journey—today, we are taking that relationship even deeper.”

Montran’s platforms already underpin several national and regional financial systems in Africa, supporting real-time gross settlement (RTGS), automated clearing house (ACH) systems, central securities depositories (CSDs), instant payment systems (IPS) and cross-border payment infrastructures. These systems play a critical role in enabling interoperability, resilience and transaction security across increasingly digital financial ecosystems.

Montran Africa will be led by Wohoro Ndohho, Regional Executive Director, with a mandate to support faster delivery, closer collaboration with clients and the development of market-specific solutions. According to the company, proximity to regulators and institutions will be central to addressing Africa’s diverse regulatory, operational and market requirements.

The establishment of a dedicated African headquarters reflects a broader industry trend, as global FinTech infrastructure providers shift from project-based engagements toward long-term regional investment. For African markets, the move underscores the growing emphasis on modern, interoperable financial rails to support inclusion, cross-border trade and economic growth as digital adoption continues to scale across the continent.