NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 31 – Absa Bank Kenya, Kenya Airways and Visa have launched a co-branded credit card targeting affluent and digitally connected Kenyans with travel, lifestyle and everyday spending rewards.
The Asante Global Card is designed to allow customers to earn Asante Rewards Points from routine purchases such as groceries, fuel, dining and international transactions, expanding the airline’s loyalty programme beyond frequent flyers.
The partnership brings together Absa’s banking services, Visa’s global payments network and Kenya Airways’ travel and lifestyle offering, with the lenders positioning the card as a premium product for consumers who spend regularly and travel locally and internationally.
Absa Bank Kenya Consumer Banking Director Moses Muthui said the product responds to a shift among consumers who increasingly expect banking, payments, travel and rewards to work as one ecosystem.
“Our customers don’t think about banking, travel, rewards, and payments separately. Customers think about these things as integrated,” Muthui said.
The card is expected to appeal particularly to higher-income consumers and frequent travelers who can convert routine spending into travel-related benefits, including flights, extra baggage and airport lounge access.
Kenya Airways Chief Commercial and Customer Officer Julius Thairu said customers no longer need to fly to accumulate rewards, allowing the airline to reach a broader segment of consumers through their daily expenditure.
“Customers do not need to fly to earn points for their rewards. They just need to do their everyday spend,” Thairu said.
The move comes as banks, airlines and payment companies increasingly compete for high-value customers by bundling financial services with lifestyle benefits.
Rather than relying solely on interest income and transaction fees, the partners are seeking to deepen customer loyalty by attaching travel and lifestyle rewards to card spending.
The Asante Global Signature card comes with a 10,000-point welcome bonus, while new Asante Global Platinum cardholders receive 5,000 points. Other benefits include airport lounge access, travel and medical insurance, additional baggage allowance and SkyPriority services.
Visa Kenya Country Manager John Njoroge said the card is particularly suited to frequent travelers, with customers earning additional rewards when purchasing Kenya Airways tickets using the card.
The Visa network also allows cardholders to make international payments while travelling, reducing the need to carry large amounts of foreign currency.
The partners said the programme is not restricted to frequent flyers, with rewards also redeemable for travel and lifestyle offerings, including flights, lounge access and selected accommodation and dining experiences.
The Asante Global Card will be available to eligible customers from September 1, 2026, with applications made online.
