Dashen Bank has rolled out a major expansion of its digital ecosystem, introducing a virtual card for international payments, a fully digital onboarding system, and a six-million-birr content competition aimed at accelerating adoption of its Super App.
The headline launch is the Dashen Virtual Card, developed in partnership with Mastercard. Integrated into the Dashen Super App, the card enables users to make international payments on platforms such as Amazon, Alibaba, and Netflix, a notable step in a market where access to global digital payments has been limited. The bank says the product will also support inbound remittances, expanding its utility beyond spending.
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Alongside this, Dashen introduced a digital onboarding service that allows customers to open accounts remotely using Fayda ID verification. The feature enables users to create accounts with just a phone number and access tiered banking services without visiting a branch, marking a significant shift toward fully digital banking in Ethiopia.
To drive user growth, the bank unveiled the Dashen Star Referral Program, targeting university and college students. Participants earn incentives by onboarding new users through personalized referral codes, effectively turning users into distribution channels.
In a parallel marketing push, Dashen launched the Super App Creative Award, a TikTok-based competition offering 6 million birr in prizes. Content creators must produce videos showcasing the app’s features, with entries surpassing one million views qualifying for in-app voting.
The expansion builds on strong early traction: the Dashen Super App has surpassed 2 million users, processing over 25 million transactions valued at more than 250 billion birr as of March 2026.
The bank also signaled upcoming features, including contactless payments, and highlighted its broader ecosystem strategy, which includes Dashen Edil, a lottery-based loyalty program offering prizes of up to 30 million birr.
Dashen’s latest moves signal intensifying competition in Ethiopia’s fintech space, with banks increasingly adopting super app strategies that combine payments, onboarding, and user acquisition into a single platform,while also pushing the boundaries of cross-border financial access.
