Beirut: TECHz Magazine – News Desk
Bank Audi has officially partnered with Mastercard in a new initiative to bring 10,000 Lebanese small business owners and entrepreneurs into the digital economy. The program aims to expand digital payment acceptance, advance financial inclusion, and specifically support the growth of micro, small, and women-led enterprises across Lebanon.
The initiative tackles the operational hurdles small businesses face by combining accessible banking with modern payment tools. Eligible businesses will receive a free bank account and a Mastercard business debit card via Bank Audi’s neo Business platform. The package includes multi-currency accounts, transaction banking services, supply chain financing, and a streamlined digital onboarding process tailored for small enterprises.
In parallel, Mastercard is backing the initiative with digital acceptance solutions, alongside merchant education and training programs. Awareness campaigns will also run to encourage broader adoption of digital payments and help merchants optimize their growth.
Leadership from both organizations highlighted the economic ripple effect of supporting small enterprises. Mohamed Assem, Mastercard’s Country Manager for Egypt, Lebanon, and Iraq, noted that small businesses act as the backbone of the economy, stating that when small businesses succeed, communities prosper.
He emphasized that the partnership provides entrepreneurs with the financial tools, digital capabilities, and the know-how they need to grow with confidence. Hassan Saleh, CEO of neo by Bank Audi, reinforced the bank’s commitment to delivering accessible financial solutions, adding that providing digital payment and collection tools enables local businesses to manage operations effectively, strengthen their competitiveness, and directly contribute to Lebanon’s broader economic recovery.
This rollout aligns with Mastercard’s wider regional strategy to rebuild economic resilience. Alongside the Bank Audi partnership, Mastercard recently announced a separate collaboration with Banque du Liban focused on modernizing the national payments ecosystem. Bank Audi’s contribution leverages its neo platform, which launched in 2024 as Lebanon’s first digital bank to offer affordable, fully online financial management without the need for physical branch visits.
