I&M Bank Uganda has been awarded the coveted Mastercard award for the Fastest Growing Debit Portfolio in Uganda for 2024-2025.
The award which was presented to the I&M Bank CEO- Robin Baistow, by Shehryar Bakht Ali, the Mastercard Senior Vice President and East Africa Country Manager, highlights the bank’s position as a key driver of digital payment adoption and a leading partner in advancing cashless financial solutions.
“Heartiest congratulations to the visionary CEO, Robin Bairstow, and the prolific I&M Bank Uganda team for receiving the coveted Mastercard award for the fastest growing debit cards in Uganda for H1’25! This would not have been possible without the cutting-edge discount campaigns, spend value offerings, and tremendous solutions, including the I&M World Elite Debit Cards,” Mastercard’s Shehryar noted in a LinkedIn post.
According to Bairstow, the Mastercard recognition marks a major milestone for the bank, as it continues to invest in customer-centric digital solutions and strategic partnerships.
“We are honored to receive this recognition from Mastercard. It reflects the trust our customers have in us, and the hard work our team has put into delivering convenient, secure, and rewarding banking experiences,” he said.
In 2023, I&M Bank Uganda announced a partnership with Mastercard, a collaboration aimed at revolutionizing the banking experience for customers, by driving digital transformation and enhancing payment security through cutting-edge digital payment solutions.
Then, the bank launched a range of new I&M Bank Mastercard cards to the market, including the I&M Standard Debit Mastercard, I&M World Debit Mastercard, and I&M World Elite Debit Card, offering enhanced features and functionality, aimed at transforming the customers’ experience, how they manage their finances and make payments.

Fast forward, the Mastercard adoption and usage went up, thanks to the bank’s targeted customer engagement initiatives, innovative product offerings, and strategic partnerships that have promoted card usage.
According to Annette Nakiyaga, Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications at I&M Bank, Mastercard uptake has been largely due to the increased need for seamless transactions that come with added benefits.
“Customers today are looking for speed, convenience, value, and above all, security. Our Mastercard offerings deliver on all four, which is why we’ve seen such strong growth in uptake. We remain committed to providing solutions that fit seamlessly into our customers’ lifestyles,” Nakiyaga said.
I&M Bank Mastercards come with very amazing benefits, including; offers and discounts at Serena Group of Hotels and Golf Resort, city properties and luxury lodges, Kampala Serena Hotel- Maisha Spa, a 25% cashback on Jumia Prime annual subscription, and a 75% scholarship off program tuition fees to eligible candidates with UNICAF partner universities.