For Nigerian travelers and digital spenders, managing money across borders has long been a source of significant stress. Fluctuating exchange rates, sudden card declines abroad, and hidden fees have turned what should be exciting experiences—like booking flights, securing hotel stays, or shopping online—into fraught financial hurdles. This complexity extends even to local everyday transactions, where reliability and transparency are increasingly demanded.
A Fintech Solution for a Global Lifestyle
Responding directly to these pain points, Kalabash, the fintech arm of the Wakanow Group, has introduced a new suite of financial tools designed for the modern Nigerian consumer. Moving away from generic offerings, Kalabash provides a flexible range of Mastercard-powered prepaid cards tailored to diverse spending habits and needs.
The core proposition addresses a fundamental reality: many Nigerians earn in Naira but need to spend in other currencies, both online and while traveling internationally. The Kalabash ecosystem is built to facilitate this seamless movement between local and international payments without the traditional friction, unpredictable costs, or network downtime.
Tailored Cards, Unified Control
The service caters to a wide audience, from frequent flyers and international lifestyle spenders to everyday users who prioritize value and dependability. Users can fund their accounts in Naira and spend in dollars, access premium travel benefits, or handle daily local purchases. Crucially, all spending on the cards earns rewards.
Control is centralized through a single mobile application. From this app, users can instantly activate their cards, add funds, set and adjust spending limits, freeze or unfreeze cards on demand, monitor all transactions in real time, and redeem cashback rewards. Virtual cards are issued immediately, while physical cards are accepted at millions of ATMs, point-of-sale terminals, and online merchants worldwide.
Security and Transparency as Priorities
In today's economic climate, security and clear pricing are non-negotiable. Kalabash cards are built on Mastercard's advanced security framework, which includes real-time fraud monitoring and chip-and-PIN protection. The company emphasizes zero liability coverage for unauthorized transactions and pledges transparent pricing with no hidden fees.
As global mobility and digital payments continue to grow, solutions that blend flexibility, trust, and tangible benefits are shifting from being mere conveniences to essential tools. Backed by the established Wakanow ecosystem across Africa, Kalabash is positioning itself as a smarter, more reliable financial companion for Nigerians navigating spending both at home and anywhere in the world.
