CABS Zimbabwe launches virtual Visa card

A virtual Visa card from CABS is dropping later this month, but the actual details separating it from existing options remain totally unclear.

CABS and Visa are going deeper

• CABS is launching a virtual Visa card through its digital platforms.
• This signals a formal strategic partnership beyond standard issuing.
• Users can generate a card digitally and skip the branch visit.
• Online payments for services like Starlink and Netflix get easier.

Growth numbers with context

• CABS claims it is now Zimbabwe's third most popular Visa issuer.
• Transaction volumes jumped 195% year-on-year with values up 215%.
• That ranking is almost certainly Visa-specific, not overall card issuing.
• Starlink's September 2024 arrival likely turbocharged Visa demand.

Virtual cards already exist here

• EcoCash has carried a virtual Mastercard for over a decade.
• O'mari, a fellow Old Mutual subsidiary, launched a virtual Visa in 2024.
• Dialing *707# gets you an O'mari card that reportedly works reliably.
• CABS has not explained what sets its offering apart.

Missing details and the bigger picture

• Fees, transaction limits, and activation speed are all unaddressed.
• Zimbabwe's card market is getting crowded with Visa and Mastercard options.
• Government tax pressure on digital payments complicates things for everyone.
• Actual user experience will determine whether this partnership matters.