Bank of India has launched its first debit card in Uganda through Interswitch, giving customers access to more than 800 ATMs and over 20,000 merchant locations nationwide.
Bank of India has entered Uganda’s card payments market for the first time through a partnership with Interswitch, allowing customers to access their accounts and pay for goods and services using Verve debit cards.
The launch, announced in Kampala on October 14, 2026, will enable customers to withdraw cash from more than 800 Interswitch-enabled automated teller machines (ATMs) and make payments at over 20,000 merchant locations across the country.
The partnership introduces card-based banking for Bank of India customers, some of whom previously relied on branch visits to access their accounts.
Verve, Interswitch’s domestic payment card scheme, will be the bank’s exclusive card scheme, with customers able to obtain debit cards from any Bank of India branch.
Moris Segu ya, Interswitch Uganda’s country general manager, said the partnership would extend access to card payments while expanding the reach of Verve and strengthening Uganda’s digital payments infrastructure.
“This partnership brings card payments to Bank of India customers for the first time, while expanding access to Verve across Uganda. Our focus is on making card payments accessible, reliable and easy to use, supported by infrastructure that can scale with the needs of banks and their customers,” Segu ya said.
He said adding more financial institutions to the Verve network would increase its reach and provide more customers with access to electronic payment services.
“Every new issuer strengthens the wider Verve network by increasing acceptance and giving more customers access to card-based payments. The Bank of India partnership is an important step in expanding that network and supporting the growth of digital payments in Uganda,” he said.
Bank of India managing director Srikant Ashok Wikhe said the partnership was part of the bank’s efforts to improve access to financial services through digital banking.
“Partnering with Interswitch to issue Verve debit cards to our customers is a natural step in our journey towards a more digital, customer-centred bank. For us, this goes beyond innovation. It is about making sure our customers have access to financial services that work efficiently, reliably, and right across Uganda,” Wikhe said.
He said Interswitch’s established payments network would make it easier for customers to access and use their money.
“With Interswitch's extensive network behind us, we are confident that our customers will experience a new level of convenience, wherever they are. We are excited about what this partnership means for our customers and for our strategic ambitions as a bank. This is just the beginning,” he added.
The deal also advances Interswitch’s strategy to increase the number of financial institutions issuing Verve cards in Uganda and the wider region.
A broader issuer base could expand the network’s reach and give customers more options for withdrawing cash and making electronic payments.
Verve International, a subsidiary of Interswitch Group, provides payment card solutions to financial institutions, businesses and consumers across Africa. Its services support transactions through ATMs, point-of-sale terminals, agency banking, e-commerce platforms and mobile applications.
Founded in 2002, Interswitch provides electronic payment processing and switching services across Africa. Its partnership with Bank of India comes as financial institutions seek to expand digital payment options and reduce reliance on cash and branch-based transactions.