Moroccan fintech infrastructure provider Chari has teamed up with global payments giant Visa and Pan-African fintech Zazu to introduce Morocco’s first fully digital business account for SMEs. The new offering, designed to streamline financial operations for entrepreneurs, was unveiled at GITEX Africa 2026 in Marrakech.
Quick Facts
- Morocco’s first fully digital SME account.
- Online account opening in under 10 minutes.
- Partnership between Chari, Visa, and Zazu.
A Three-Way Partnership to Tackle SME Banking
The new platform allows business owners to sidestep the complex paperwork and lengthy delays typical of traditional banking in Morocco, offering account setup in less than ten minutes. The service integrates invoicing, payment collection links, real-time expense management, and team spending controls into a single dashboard.
The collaboration is built on a clear division of roles: Chari provides the core technology, API-driven payment license access, and deep local market knowledge. Visa brings its global payment network and card issuance capabilities, while Zazu manages the user-facing platform. Visa Business cards are expected to be available for teams in the coming weeks.
Early Traction Signals Strong Market Demand
Even before its public launch, the digital account onboarded over 300 businesses, indicating a significant need for modern financial tools in the market. Early adopters include AI recruitment platform Jobzyn, automotive marketplace Auto24, and Moroccan proptech startup Yakeey.
Zazu, founded in 2024 by former Solarisbank executives Rinse Jacobs and Germain Bahri, raised $1 million in a pre-seed round in late 2025 and has already established operations in South Africa. The company views Morocco as a strategic entry point for expansion into North and West Africa, leveraging the country’s established banking infrastructure while addressing the gap in digital-first SME solutions.
About Chari
Chari is a Moroccan B2B e-commerce and fintech startup that digitizes the largely fragmented FMCG sector in French-Speaking Africa. The company provides a mobile application allowing traditional proximity store owners to order products from their partner FMCG multinationals and local manufacturers, receiving them in less than 24 hours. Chari has also expanded into fintech services, offering financial solutions to its retail customers.
Source: MEA Tech Watch
