Africa presents the ideal environment in which to evolve a new cash and payments services architecture – by linking rapidly changing customer expectations with new technologies. This puts banks squarely at the center of mediating the creative clash of trends and technology, as Africa’s financial institutions harness disruption for innovation and growth. Even without a convincing commodities price rebound the African Development Bank is predicting GDP growth figures of 3.4% for the continent in 2017 – and 4.3% in 2018.  Lead by increasingly diversified and integrated economies, especially in East Africa, the continent is expected to remain the world’s second fastest growing region after Asia.