African Banks Urged to Get More from Existing Payment Technology

African banks may be able to accelerate payment innovation by making better use of systems they already have, rather than immediately investing in costly replacements.

The issue was discussed at BPC Client Conference 2026, which took place in Cape Town on Wednesday. Bankers, payments specialists and cybersecurity experts examined how financial institutions could extract more value from existing technology while responding to demand for faster digital services.

Focus on practical modernisation

Using existing technology more effectively was a central theme of the conference. The discussion highlighted a potential route for banks seeking to improve digital services without treating modernisation as an entirely new technology build.

Jonathan Bautista, BPC’s Asia-Pacific regional solution director, said modernisation does not have to mean a costly overhaul. The conference discussions instead considered how institutions could build greater value from payment capabilities already in place.

Balancing speed and security

The event brought together banking, payments and cybersecurity professionals as financial institutions face continued demand for faster digital services. The discussions considered the need to pursue improvements while maintaining attention to technology and security requirements.

BPC is a Swiss-based payment technology company that provides digital banking, payment processing and mobility solutions worldwide. No specific African banks, payment systems or replacement projects were identified in the available conference information.