Virtual Dollar Cards In Nigeria: Challenges, Solutions For Fintech Startups

Virtual dollar cards in Nigeria
Photo Credit: Quartz

 

HIGHLIGHTS

Join our WhatsApp Channel
  • Chargeback fraud and insufficient funds are two major challenges that Nigerian fintech startups like Payday and Chipper Cash are facing in providing virtual dollar cards to their users.

  • Card schemes like Mastercard require issuers to limit chargeback rates to 1%, but the surge in chargeback cases at Nigerian fintechs is impacting their operations.

  • Startups must conduct appropriate KYC checks and require customers to approve transactions before inputting their card details. Providing a subscription tracker or disposable cards could be a solution to reducing incidents of declined transactions due to insufficient funds.

Virtual dollar cards in Nigeria allow purchases that exceed limits imposed by local banks and have gained widespread acceptance. However, startups like Payday have faced the problem of chargeback fraud, which occurs when users make purchases on eCommerce websites, claim they never received the item, and request a chargeback. This is in breach of the 1% chargeback rate required by card schemes like Mastercard and VISA, leading to high numbers of chargeback cases in Nigerian fintechs.

Transaction decline due to insufficient funds

Another challenge facing virtual dollar cards providers is transactions declined due to insufficient funds, which could lead to the permanent termination of a user’s card and Payday account. Startups must think hard about solutions to these challenges, such as providing subscription trackers or disposable cards.

Solutions to Challenges

To reduce these incidents, startups must conduct appropriate KYC checks and require customers to approve transactions after inputting their card details. Customers must also pay a 20% fee before chargebacks are disputed on their behalf, and the filing of chargebacks per user is limited to once a month.

READ: Flutterwave Shuts Down Its Virtual Dollar Card Service

Overall, the demand for virtual dollar cards driven by the limits placed by commercial banks could drive down the demand for them. However, Nigerian fintechs like Bridgecard intend to launch virtual and physical naira cards for such scenarios. Startups must consider the challenges involved in providing virtual cards to Nigerians and develop adequate solutions to these problems.

Aka
Aka Ekene, PBA Journalism Mentee
+ posts
Bhutan's bitcoin mining
Previous Story

SUDAN: Bhutan’s Quiet Bitcoin Mining Operation

Kidney Patient now Councillor in UK
Next Story

Kidney Patient Turns Councillor: Hilaria Asumu’s Inspiring Journey To UK Public Service

Featured Stories

Latest from Business

Nigerian Stock Market Record Highest Level In 15-years, Equity Cap Up N59.90bn

NGX Market Cap Rises To N125.48trn — Up By N1.72trn

On Monday, March 2, the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) recorded a N1.72 trillion increase in its market capitalisation, which rose to N125.48 trillion from N123.76 trillion on Friday, February 27. The market capitalisation increased by 1.39 percent after the all-share index (ASI) expanded
Dangote Cement

Dangote Cement Records 20% Increase in 2025 Revenue

Dangote Cement Plc reported a 20.3 percent rise in revenue to 4.31 trillion naira ($2.7 billion) for the year ending Dec. 31, 2025, driven by higher prices in key markets, the company said in a filing to the Nigerian Exchange Limited. The
Why Nigerian Airlines Have Been Unable To Compete With Foreign Operators - Keyamo  

US-Iran Strikes Disrupt Nigeria–Middle East Flight Routes

Flights between Nigeria and several Middle East destinations were disrupted on Saturday after multiple countries shut their airspace following United States and Israeli strikes on Iran, airport authorities said. The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) said the closures were already affecting
Bhutan's bitcoin mining
Previous Story

SUDAN: Bhutan’s Quiet Bitcoin Mining Operation

Kidney Patient now Councillor in UK
Next Story

Kidney Patient Turns Councillor: Hilaria Asumu’s Inspiring Journey To UK Public Service

Don't Miss

Economic hardship and insecurity create challenges for Kasire residents

Economic hardship and insecurity create challenges for Kasire residents

Community leaders, including chiefs, women, youth leaders, and elders, gathered
Failing National Grid: Why Nigeria Needs Urgent Reforms Now

Failing National Grid: Why Nigeria Needs Urgent Reforms Now

As Nigerians face yet another week of rolling blackouts due