Verto Launches US-Dollar Accounts amid Rising Banking Barriers for Africa-Focused Firms
Global fintech, Verto has introduced US-dollar business accounts aimed at companies operating between the United States and Africa to address growing banking challenges for businesses in emerging markets.
The launch comes at a time when a rising number of startups and internationally registered firms with operations in Africa are facing difficulties maintaining bank accounts in the United States.
Verto’s solution will enable such businesses to access US-dollar accounts supported by US banking infrastructure, giving them a more stable way to receive, hold and move funds while operating across emerging markets.
“This responds to a clear gap in the market,” said Ola Oyetayo, CEO of Verto. “We are seeing businesses that are properly registered and investment-backed struggle to maintain banking relationships simply because they operate across borders, including in African markets”, he added.
Recent data from The Big Deal shows that African startups raised over $3 billion in 2025, reflecting renewed investor confidence, even as many companies continue to face operational challenges moving capital across borders.
However, in recent months, founders and companies working between the US and Africa have faced increased scrutiny from financial institutions, reflecting broader caution in global banking systems around emerging markets. This has created operational uncertainty for firms managing payments, payroll, supplier relationships and investor funds across jurisdictions.
The challenge reflects a broader tension in the global financial system, where increasingly stringent anti-money laundering and risk controls are being applied in ways that often do not distinguish between high-risk activity and legitimate business
operations in emerging markets.
Verto notes its offering is designed for companies that sit at the centre of this challenge — including US businesses with African operations, startups scaling across markets, and firms involved in trade and digital services.
By providing access to US-dollar accounts alongside its existing cross-border payments capabilities, the company aims to give businesses a more predictable way to manage international transactions, particularly between the US and African economies.
“Reliable access to banking is fundamental to trade and growth,” added Ola Oyetayo, CEO of Verto. “When businesses can move money with certainty, it strengthens not just individual companies, but the wider markets they operate in.”
For businesses, the move could reduce delays, lower transaction friction and improve confidence when dealing with global partners.
For African markets, it has the potential to support smoother inflows of capital by making it easier for international companies to pay suppliers, staff and service providers on the continent.
As global trade becomes more interconnected, solutions that bridge financial systems between developed and emerging markets are likely to play an increasingly important role in supporting business expansion and investment flows.
*Verto’s US Account services are provided by VertoFX INC (Delaware MTL: 041774, Wyoming MTL: 7374, Illinois MTL: MT.0000513) in partnership with Verto FX LTD and Community Federal Savings Bank (CFSB).