Union54

Union54 is a card-issuing platform for African fintechs and software businesses that need to issue virtual and physical debit cards to customers, employees, or merchants through an API.

Key capabilities include:

• Single API for card issuing operations, combining BIN sponsorship, authorization, processing, and settlement so teams do not need multiple vendors
• Developer-first integration, with RESTful endpoints, a sandbox, and webhooks to support faster testing and production rollout
• Card programme controls, including spend limits, card controls, and team permissions for corporate cards, delivery fleets, and other controlled-spend use cases
• Brand customisation and fulfillment, with support for custom card design and packaging, plus card production for physical cards

Available via Web dashboard and API (documentation at docs.union54.technology).

Target users include B2B teams such as fintechs, digital banks, payment gateways/acquirers, and other businesses across Africa building programmes like ledger-linked cards, BNPL, corporate cards, and merchant settlement cards.

It is notable in the African market as a Lusaka-based (Zambia) card-issuing provider, founded in 2020 as a spin-out from Zazu, with backing from Y Combinator (S21) and reported seed funding led by Tiger Global.