Dashen Bank and ShebaMiles Launch Platinum Co-Branded Mastercard Debit Card in Ethiopia

Dashen Bank and ShebaMiles launched a Platinum co-branded Mastercard debit card in Ethiopia, combining payments, loyalty and travel benefits, Business Wire reported on October 23, 2026. The card is issued by Dashen Bank, powered by Mastercard and linked to Ethiopian Airlines' ShebaMiles loyalty program.

What the Dashen Bank Card Offers

The card enables customers to use one card for everyday and travel-related payments while accessing airport lounge access, airport fast track and global data roaming, in addition to miles earned in the air. It will be available in physical and virtual formats, with the virtual card accessible through the Dashen Bank Super App, which serves more than 2 million active monthly users. Eligible cardholders will also have access to Mastercard Airport Experiences, which provides entry to a global network of more than 1,600 airport lounges.

Shehryar Ali, senior vice president and country manager for East Africa and Indian Ocean Islands at Mastercard, said: "Travel is increasingly becoming a connected digital experience, and consumers expect the same level of convenience, security and value from the way they pay."

Ato Asfaw Alemu, CEO of Dashen Bank, said: "Our collaboration with Mastercard and Ethiopian Airlines brings together payments, travel and loyalty in a differentiated proposition, while giving customers the flexibility to access their card digitally through the Dashen Bank Super App or through a physical card."

Ethiopian Airlines serves more destinations within Africa than any other airline, according to the announcement. The launch builds on the strategic collaboration between Mastercard and Dashen Bank, including a strategic investment agreement supporting the program's rollout.

Dashen Bank's Super App Scale

According to akta.pro company records, Dashen Bank partnered with Mastercard in April 2026 to launch virtual international payment cards, extending its card-based remittance and cross-border commerce capabilities. The same records show the Super App crossed 2 million users with 25 million-plus transactions and over 250 billion birr processed as of March 2026. Dashen Bank's funding records list one round, a debt-funded $40 million round in August 2023 led by British International Investment and FMO.

Other Card Launches in the Sector

OneGold unveiled the OneGold Card on October 13, 2026, a payment card that lets customers spend gold and silver holdings anywhere Mastercard is accepted, GlobeNewswire reported. Pluxee Peru is launching a new payment method and virtual card strategy for 2027, including QR payments and a virtual card delivered in six hours, Gestion reported on October 14, 2026. TEN Credit Union selected Bankjoy for digital banking as it moved to Corelation's KeyStone core, FinancialContent Business Page reported on October 23, 2026.