Stanbic Bank Ghana has intensified efforts to promote digital payments and local commerce by rewarding winners of its FIFA World Cup Experience Campaign while unveiling a new initiative designed to increase domestic card usage and support businesses across the country.
The dual event, held under the Bank’s 2026 Bank the Moment campaign in partnership with Visa, highlighted the growing role of digital payments in Ghana’s economy and demonstrated how customer loyalty can be transformed into premium experiences.
Several customers who actively used their Stanbic Visa debit and credit cards were rewarded with all-expenses-paid trips to attend the FIFA World Cup, a move the bank says reflects its commitment to creating value beyond traditional banking services.
Speaking at the event, Chidinma Braye-Yankee, Head of Brand and Marketing at Stanbic Bank Ghana, said the campaign aligns with the bank’s broader objective of driving economic growth while strengthening engagement with customers.
She noted that the initiative was built around three key pillars: supporting national pride through the Black Stars, empowering employees, and rewarding customers through strategic partnerships.
“The campaign goes beyond football. It is about creating meaningful connections with our customers and demonstrating the value that digital banking solutions can deliver in their everyday lives,” she said.
According to her, the partnership with Visa has enabled Stanbic Bank to reward customers for both local and international card transactions, transforming routine spending into opportunities for unique experiences.
The World Cup rewards programme also served as a platform for the bank to showcase the benefits associated with card usage as Ghana continues its transition towards a more digitally-driven economy.
Kwame Offei, Head of Product for Personal and Private Banking at Stanbic Bank Ghana, encouraged customers to embrace card-based transactions, describing Stanbic Visa credit cards as lifestyle products that offer convenience, security and access to exclusive rewards.
He said the campaign demonstrates the potential benefits available to customers who fully utilize digital payment solutions.
“We want customers to see that beyond facilitating payments, card usage can unlock significant lifestyle and financial benefits,” he said.
Beyond rewarding customers, Stanbic Bank used the occasion to launch its Local Card Usage Initiative, a programme developed in collaboration with Visa to encourage spending at local businesses while accelerating the adoption of cashless payments.
Under the initiative, customers who use Stanbic Visa debit or credit cards at participating merchants will qualify for cashback rewards after meeting specified spending thresholds. Customers will also enjoy discounts at selected retail outlets.
For merchants, the programme offers an additional incentive through zero fees on Stanbic point-of-sale (POS) transactions, reducing operational costs and encouraging wider acceptance of digital payments.
The initiatives could help strengthen Ghana’s digital payments ecosystem by reducing reliance on cash transactions, increasing transaction transparency and improving efficiency for businesses.
According to Braye-Yankee, the initiative extends the impact of the Bank the Moment campaign into the broader economy by encouraging consumers to support local enterprises.
“Every time a customer chooses to spend locally with their Stanbic card, they are supporting Ghanaian businesses and contributing to the development of a stronger digital economy,” she said.
The first merchants participating in the programme include Hisense, Shoprite and Decathlon, with additional businesses expected to join in the coming months.
Speaking on behalf of Visa Ghana, Fabrice Konan, Country Head, commended Stanbic Bank for introducing a programme that simultaneously benefits consumers and merchants.
He noted that increasing card acceptance and usage remains critical to Ghana’s digital transformation agenda and the development of a more inclusive financial system.
The Local Card Usage Initiative forms part of Stanbic Bank’s broader investment in digital financial services and reflects growing collaboration between financial institutions and payment technology providers to expand electronic transactions in Ghana.
With digital payments becoming an increasingly important driver of economic activity, the programme is expected to boost consumer spending, support merchant growth and contribute to the country’s cashless economy ambitions.